ATM withdrawals at gunpoint

[Zukat]

With cash being used less and less, we are seeing rising number of criminals (sometimes in uniform looking for bribes) taking victims to the atms to withdraw cash. Any suggestions/tips how you can protect yourself in this situation, also how the banks can protect their customers from being targets? or am I making this problem bigger than it actually is...

 

[AchmatK]

Don't know how much of a problem this is but I don't think it's that prevalent or there would be more reports about it.

If you are concerned you can reduce you daily card withdrawal limit. Mine is set to the lowest as I hardly ever use cash.

I also stopped carrying my card and leaving it in the car as I use Samsung Pay exclusively.

 

[R13...]

Or just carry a spare bank account with very little in. Keep your main account card hidden and not with your wallet and other stuff.

 

[bromster]

How sad is it that we have to have discussions like this?

 

[NeonNinja]

Don't know how much of a problem this is but I don't think it's that prevalent or there would be more reports about it.

If you are concerned you can reduce you daily card withdrawal limit. Mine is set to the lowest as I hardly ever use cash.

I also stopped carrying my card and leaving it in the car as I use Samsung Pay exclusively.

They took this guy from a restaurant in Midrand, he upped his limit at gun point.

 

[Bryn]

With cash being used less and less, we are seeing rising number of criminals (sometimes in uniform looking for bribes) taking victims to the atms to withdraw cash. Any suggestions/tips how you can protect yourself in this situation, also how the banks can protect their customers from being targets? or am I making this problem bigger than it actually is...

No, it is worth being concerned about. I know several people who've gone through the withdrawal-at-gunpoint saga. The assailants access your phone, check where you live, threaten to impersonate a bystander at your 'car crash' and kidnap your wife when she rocks up etc. etc. and if you're lucky enough to survive the ordeal they'll tell you that if they see a squeak about it in the paper they'll get revenge.

Don't know how much of a problem this is but I don't think it's that prevalent or there would be more reports about it.

If you are concerned you can reduce you daily card withdrawal limit. Mine is set to the lowest as I hardly ever use cash.

I also stopped carrying my card and leaving it in the car as I use Samsung Pay exclusively.

Most people have withdrawal limits. The first thing they do is have you remove those limits.

If they get the impression that you're being clever with them they'll just shoot you or get your family involved.

Or just carry a spare bank account with very little in. Keep your main account card hidden and not with your wallet and other stuff.

That only works if it fits in with the quality of your car and apparent lifestyle. Anything that looks like you're being clever is going to backfire horrifically.

 

[AchmatK]

They took this guy from a restaurant in Midrand, he upped his limit at gun point.

Most people have withdrawal limits. The first thing they do is have you remove those limits.

If they get the impression that you're being clever with them they'll just shoot you or get your family involved.

Good thing I don't carry any bank cards on me.

Cardless cash withdrawals has a max limit of R3k with FNB.

 

[argh]

There are some good safety suggestions on this thread. Here are some more. Namola is a free app that gives you a panic button on your smartphone, which links to an emergency service. A few months ago, Namola also introduced a free-standing panic button which can locate you and also has a microphone in for communicating with the emergency service, more information on www.namola.com

 

[Bryn]

Good thing I don't carry any bank cards on me.

Cardless cash withdrawals has a max limit of R3k with FNB.

Irrelevant. They'll stand next to you in the bank while you empty your bank account in person. Even if the bank tellers suspect something (because they will be many as you go bank to bank), they're trained to do absolutely nothing and alert no one. You also won't be covered for a single cent that you lose in this manner.

There are some good safety suggestions on this thread. Here are some more. Namola is a free app that gives you a panic button on your smartphone, which links to an emergency service. A few months ago, Namola also introduced a free-standing panic button which can locate you and also has a microphone in for communicating with the emergency service, more information on www.namola.com

Also irrelevant. They have guys back in the car with your phone and contact/location info of your family. They'll make it very clear to you that if anything happens to the bloke accompanying you that the others will drive off and take it out on your family. Sometimes they'll acquire family members before embarking on the banking trips.

 

[AchmatK]

Irrelevant. They'll stand next to you in the bank while you empty your bank account in person. Even if the bank tellers suspect something (because they will be many as you go bank to bank), they're trained to do absolutely nothing and alert no one. You also won't be covered for a single cent that you lose in this manner.

You can make a withdrawal inside the bank without your bank card?

I don't think fnb allows you to make a withdrawal inside the bank without your card present.

 

[Bryn]

You can make a withdrawal inside the bank without your bank card?

I don't think fnb allows you to make a withdrawal inside the bank without your card present.

You're forgetting the part where they will drive you to your house to fetch whatever you need to get the job done. And that may be a far worse set of events than simply having your cards on you to start with.

And if you refuse to comply, well you're simply a dead man. As I said, being clever isn't going to work out.

 

[Lupus]

Best way make sure all your money is spent as it comes in. It's the South African way

 

[SauRoNZA]

Don’t use ATMs.

Draw money at Checkers, Pick and Pay etc.

And only if you absolutely need cash.

 

[RonSwanson]

If you are white, and going about, don't flaunt your wealth, no gold Gucci chains, no Ray-Bans, edgars bondi blues are good enough, Midrand is not the souf of Joburg, wear dirty and torn clothes of a labourer, dirty shorts with a bit of paint and some holes in them, a nondecript faded and yellowed white T-shirt with some paint on it, worn out plakkies are a must, no Italian leather, keep the wife out of sight, drive a 20 year old Venture bus like this: https://mybroadband.co.za/forum/threads/r400k-what-would-you-get.1056767/page-5#post-24486963
and enjoy your shopping!

Edit: Plus the car guards ignore you and in some rare instances actually give you a tip!

 

[Bryn]

Don’t use ATMs.

Draw money at Checkers, Pick and Pay etc.

And only if you absolutely need cash.

That's just a general safety tip. In the context of this thread, you don't have any say in the matter if someone is taking you to ATMs or bank branches to draw cash against your will.

 

[supersunbird]

Don’t use ATMs.

Draw money at Checkers, Pick and Pay etc.

And only if you absolutely need cash.

So if you are kidnapped at the mall parking lot, and they want to take you to the ATM, you will just tell them "I don't use ATMs" and they will let you go?

 

[backstreetboy]

People have cash in their bank accounts?

 

[ArmatageShanks]

So if you are kidnapped at the mall parking lot, and they want to take you to the ATM, you will just tell them "I don't use ATMs" and they will let you go?

Would be more successful if you try to bluff them by yelling No Speakedy Engesh!!

 

[SauRoNZA]

So if you are kidnapped at the mall parking lot, and they want to take you to the ATM, you will just tell them "I don't use ATMs" and they will let you go?

That’s a wee bit of a different situation and the entire thread is negated by such an event anyway.

 

[SauRoNZA]

That's just a general safety tip. In the context of this thread, you don't have any say in the matter if someone is taking you to ATMs or bank branches to draw cash against your will.

Not much you can do about then.