It is more important than ever to brush up on ATM safety. Here are five tips to help you keep your ATM transactions completely secure!

1. Keep your PIN private. Your personal identification number should always be kept personal. Don’t share this number with anyone and don’t write it down anywhere or keep it stored in your phone. It’s also a good idea to choose a unique PIN for all your accounts and to change your number once a year to keep it fresh.

2. Be aware of your surroundings. As you use the machine, it’s crucial to be aware of your surroundings and to look for anything suspicious, like characters lurking nearby or dark cars parked in the area for far too long.

3. Use your body as a shield. Never let an ATM you are using be in easy view of a criminal. Stand close to the machine to block it from view and cover the keypad with your hand while you input the PIN. This way, no one will be able to steal your information just by watching you complete your transaction. 

4. Put away all cash as soon as you complete your transaction. If you’re making a withdrawal, be sure to move all cash out of sight as soon as you receive it from the ATM. Have your wallet or an envelope ready so this takes as little time as possible. Never count cash in public; you can check that you have received the correct amount when you’re safely in the car.

5. Be sure to take your receipt. Don’t leave any evidence of the transaction you just completed. If you select to receive a receipt, make sure to take it with you when you leave.

Here at SeaComm, we take our members’ safety very seriously. We use multiple protective measures to keep you, your information and your money safe when you use one of our ATMs.

For more ways to safeguard your finances and personal information, visit the SeaComm Fraud Center, which includes valuable resources to help educate and empower our members to protect their assets and identities. Click here to get started!