Please keep your PIN hidden (From Andover Advertiser)
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Please keep your PIN hidden
12:49pm Thursday 21st February 2013 in Letters
WITH reference to the article ‘OAP loses £1,000 after card theft’ 15 February, I was a victim to exactly the same style of crime at Tesco, River Way about three years ago.
I too was asked directions by a man in a car who spoke with an eastern European accent.
Just my credit card was stolen from my handbag which was sitting in the foot well of my car – a very sneaky technique, as there is no immediate or obvious sign that anything has been taken from your car.
The perpetrators then used it on a £2,000+ spending spree in London, before my bank became alerted to the unusual activity and placed an automatic stop on the card.
I cannot stress enough how important it is to keep your PIN number hidden from onlookers, or ‘Shoulder Surfing’, the term used for acquiring someone’s PIN when goods are being purchased by credit card.
Use your free hand to cover the credit card machine when you tap in your PIN and if possible, turn the machine away from view of people stood immediately around you.
If you leave your car to return a trolley or speak to someone after you have placed your goods and bag in your car, lock your car up.
I see far too many people not being careful enough in keeping their PIN number hidden – keep it private!
Enham Alamein resident
