Using an ATM During a Robbery - Yet Another Internet Legend
I noticed a post on the bulletin board at work that advised this: if you are being robbed at an ATM, reverse your pin number and the ATM program will give you the money you requested, but also notify police.
For example: you are being forced to use your ATM card to withdraw a sum of money. We've heard about this happening, so it's a likely scenario. Your ATM pin number is 1234, but you remember this piece of Internet advice and enter 4321 instead. The ATM will give you the money you requested, but will recognize that it is in reverse and summon police who capture the robber and you get your money back.
I see one problem: The money comes out of the machine, you give it to the robber, and hopefully, they leave the scene as soon as you hand over the money. Unless the police department is across the street, the cops probably will not arrive in time to catch the crook. If you are lucky, they will leave you without your money, but with your life. More likely, they'll take you somewhere else to try to get more money or kill you.
Several states have attempted to enact panic code legislation, but it appears none have gotten passed. The banking industry doesn't seem to be interested in such a code and, to be honest, a lot of people would have difficult remembering the correct number under such duress, much less the reverse numbers.
Here's the snopes.com link if you are interested in reading it.
For example: you are being forced to use your ATM card to withdraw a sum of money. We've heard about this happening, so it's a likely scenario. Your ATM pin number is 1234, but you remember this piece of Internet advice and enter 4321 instead. The ATM will give you the money you requested, but will recognize that it is in reverse and summon police who capture the robber and you get your money back.
I see one problem: The money comes out of the machine, you give it to the robber, and hopefully, they leave the scene as soon as you hand over the money. Unless the police department is across the street, the cops probably will not arrive in time to catch the crook. If you are lucky, they will leave you without your money, but with your life. More likely, they'll take you somewhere else to try to get more money or kill you.
Several states have attempted to enact panic code legislation, but it appears none have gotten passed. The banking industry doesn't seem to be interested in such a code and, to be honest, a lot of people would have difficult remembering the correct number under such duress, much less the reverse numbers.
Here's the snopes.com link if you are interested in reading it.
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