PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - A Plett man fell victim to an ATM scam on Sunday 6 August, when he was tricked into re-inserting his card after completing his transaction. 

He lost a large sum of money and crimefighters have urged caution for residents.

Lisa Nagel of Plett.Watch, a local neighbourhood watch group, reported that one of their members was scammed at an ATM at the Checkers shopping centre just before 15:00 on Sunday. She said that the man withdrew money and proceeded to enter Checkers.

"He was followed by a person who told him he had not completed his transaction at the ATM and to return to end it. He went back to the machine and inserted his card and as soon as he entered his pin number, the person who called him, together with his sidekick, disappeared," Nagel said.

The victim was unable to get his card out of the machine and immediately contacted his bank's fraud department and cancelled his card. "It was however not quick enough to prevent a large sum of money being withdrawn."

Nagel reminded residents that once the ATM releases one's card, the transaction is complete. 

"Do not let anyone tell you otherwise. If you are approached, as this gentleman was, tell the suspect to call the number posted at the machine to report it." One should never insert one's card into the machine again, and report the situation to the fraud division at your bank as the scammers may already have your card details.

"If possible, draw cash at the till points at supermarkets. All our supermarkets in town offer this service and it is cheaper than drawing from an ATM. If you feel at all uncomfortable while using an ATM machine, rather cancel the transaction and leave. If someone is standing too close, ask them to back away. 

"Try to draw money where there are security guards close by, but if possible, draw inside a business or at a till point."

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