ATM – Any Time Mishap

How often do you check your bank balances? Do you monitor your accounts online or wait for the statement to arrive in the mail?

Internet banking and credit card are growing in India. People have become more technically sound. At the same pace the frauds in this area are also have increased. Preventing such frauds requires a coordinated and cooperative action from the bank, customers and the law. The Cyber Law of India, the Information Technology Act, 2000 (IT Act, 2000), is also not active on this aspect. Thus, Internet banking frauds and credit card frauds are growing in India. The ATM frauds not only cause financial loss to banks but they also weaken customer’s confidence in the use of ATMs.

Do you have the habit of throwing the receipt in the bin in the ATM?
If so I’m sorry to say, you are in danger.

In Singapore it is recently found that a person was busy picking up the receipts from the bin. No, he was not the sweeper. He was an IT expert who could crack the account of any person with the account number written on the receipt. You will be unaware of the fact that your money is flowing out until you are in touch with your account and transactions. The bank will not be able to trace where these people had drawn the money & how they do it, don't ask me, even the bank can't answer it. They can only advise you to report the case to the police for investigation. So DO NOT THROW AWAY YOUR RECEIPTS.

It’s important to follow a few simple steps to protect yourself. What’s more important is that you could be at risk even if your ATM card is never actually physically stolen, as technical nerds can use skimming devices and keyboard to steal your card information digitally when you are busy withdrawing cash. There are some easy steps to be kept in mind:

–If the ATM is acting strange, don’t use it. A slow-moving ATM is the one which has been tampered with, experts say. Hedge your bets and use another machine.
–Beware of ATMs with stickers saying that you can now swipe your card into the machine, for instance, when you know that the machine was an insert model in the past. ATM vendors will mostly replace ATMs and instructions would probably not be changed with a just a label-quality sticker.
–Do shield your hand when you enter in your PIN. Sometimes tiny clandestine cameras (some as small as a pinhead) are installed near machines. Don’t give them any chance to pick up your digits.
–Check your bank balance regularly. It’s the quickest and easiest way to catch ATM fraud. The sooner you suspect the sooner you should report to the bank.
–The rules governing ATM fraud don’t protect consumers as much as those covering credit-card fraud do.
–Avoid ATMs in isolated locations. You might want to think twice before using a stand-alone ATM in a mall or convenience store. The machine may not be as secure as one within a bank branch.

The mechanisms like Designated time, Microchip technology, Biometric tokens, Enhanced security, ATM Monitoring, Customised softwares, Customer motivation, Alerts, etc can be used to minimise and prevent ATM frauds in India. The banks must spread public awareness in this regard among the public so that these frauds can be prevented says Mr. Praveen Dalal, the Leading Techno-Legal ICT, Cyber Law, Cyber Security and Cyber Forensics Specialist of India.

The hackers tend to improve on their methods and strategies day by day. ATM hackers are very smart and intelligent and you may not even see them coming except you have some tips to how they operate. Rouges have tips on how to install fraudulent card-reading devices, with which they can read any card inset in a 'tampered-with' ATM.

“Prevention is better than cure” – It is better to take preventive measure and stop the mishap than to wake up at the final stage.

SENSE THE PRESENCE

Have you ever missed your keys? Your wallet? Or forgotten an important bag back?
After a frantic search you would feel if only you could call them.

Hello car key where are you ?
Beep beep, I’m under the bed. Said the key.
Here you go, you are not wrong in that thought. You have paved way for an innovation and someone has understood the need and served the best.

Nokia reveals the sensational sensor which enables you to keep track of anything and everything in your reach. This device does not require GPS or GPRS or WI-FI. The sensor includes its own battery which has enough power to last 18 months continuously without the next recharge. A little thumb size locator which can be tagged to your key or wallet which enables you to track it within 100 m. With the application on the phone, it will navigate you to the object. The application will show you how far you are from it.

The system works the other way around too. When you get separated from the object, an alarm will alert you. You can turn off the application when you are far away from the object or when you are away from the object the handset disables it and re-enables it when it re-enters close to you. It depends on the settings you choose. This tiny gadget can be tagged to any sort of item and the application will support up to 100 items. Unfortunately the release date is not sure. Let’s keep our fingers crossed for this marvellous creation.

FUEL DUPERY

You may be thinking what dupery can be done in fuelling?
Everything is electronic which involves less labour and everything happens at a considerable speed, saves time in this busy schedule. At this moment we take for granted certain happenings in the petrol bunk. There are certain incidents -

1. We tend to speak on the phone while waiting in the queue, often keep the person on hold and fill fuel. Our attention is on the call, paying money and moving so the next person in the queue proceeds forward. At this time we have not noted the meter readings and are unaware of the quantity of fuel filled. The attendant is sharp and clever that he fills less and resets to zero before the next person comes.

2. We say the attendant to fill for Rs.200; he casually fills for Rs.50 and stays cool. When we ask for it, he says he heard it as Rs.50. Then as demanded by us he fills still Rs.150. So here Rs.50 first and Rs.150 now gives you your desired fuel of Rs.200. but we fail to notice that he had continued from Rs.50 to Rs.150 and has duped us for Rs.50. We can’t ask, as there is no proof.

3. There is a system in the filling station; if only the pump piston is set to the holder it sets to zero. Or else there is a way to just show a zero and continue for the previous value.

4. If you are distracted and are not paying attention to the meter, the attendant will stop filling well before the amount is reached, and will quickly reset it to zero and pretend that his task is done. He will make a face at you to pay up and get moving as the crowd is waiting for their chance.

5. When the attendant starts filling fuel, his friend comes up and starts behaving in a friendly way. You will most certainly get cornered if you try to be responding to his talks. By the time he is done, you will turn around and find that the attendant is standing still and the meter is reading the full amount you had asked for. You leave the place satisfied. What the person would have actually done is to stop filling fuel long before what you wanted, then immediately resetting the meter and typing your desired figure manually. You would have been deceived by the talks and not paid attention to the meter.

6. In all bunks, the amount is typed manually. Generally they got to type 1500 for filling Rs.150 worth fuel. When you need to fill fuel for Rs.1500, they enter 1500 in your presence and fill the fuel. Sending you to get the bill and deceiving you by their actions and questions.

7. Customers coming in car should be very careful while filling fuel. The level of dupery is more possible and easy, as the tank is behind and a person can’t keep an eye on both the meter and the tank. The attendant could be filling the fuel in another container below. You might keep an eye on the meter.

8. When fuel is getting filled from lorry to the tanks, the air pressure is high. This makes the digital meter to show varied numbers. So, when we fill fuel the meter reading and the fuel actually filled differs.

9. Insist on filling fuel by the electronic pump which would give you the option of entering the amount of fuel to be filled. If not, the attendant will fill 0.95 litres and claim for it as 1litre.

10. Look for 8’s on the meter, instead of 0’s. When the meter is reset, all digits first display 8’s and then the regular reading starts.


There is no use of complaining to the cops or write a letter to the company or write an article in the paper or talking about consumer rights. It’s our money and we should be careful about it. It’s our right and none can exploit it from us.

-> If you are in a car, get down and check.
-> Try to fill fuel in the morning time before 8:00 AM, so you get more quantity than in the hot sun.
-> Try to go to same petrol bunk (once you start believing as genuine pump) at maximum possible to have good relationship.
-> If you have a cell phone, don't use it in the bunk.
-> Pay money after filling fuel in your vehicle.
-> Render exact change if the money has to be paid at the beginning.
-> Credit card users ensure the amount beforehand.
-> Keep constant check on the meter.
-> Fill fuel for round off amounts such as Rs.100, Rs.200etc. which would enable you to render the exact change.
-> Don’t bother to any distractions by the other staff persons.
-> Look in the meter for 8’s.
-> Don’t hesitate to stop and question if you are having doubt.
-> Spread awareness and be equipped instead of complaining.

WHY SPORTS WHEN WII GAMES

If you’re not familiar with mobile games, you will soon be because this is the next big area of growth expected in the gaming market. A mobile game usually is a computer software game played on a cellular phone. Games are usually downloaded via the mobile operator’s network, in some cases games are also pre loaded into the mobile handsets when purchased.

Are you lazy to get on the fields? Do you have enough time for your exercise? Do you feel playing video games is childish?

Forget the old ways of pressing buttons on joystick or breaking your key boards or running on the fields. It’s time to get into action with the new technology BREW (Binary Runtime for Wireless) which is going to keep you on the move. It is the most powerful technology, giving complete control of the handset and access to its functionality.

Wii games is developed by Nintendo, which uses the BREW technology. This game is a collection of simulations, designed to demonstrate the motion sensing capabilities of the Wii remote. Player use the Wii Remote to mimic actions performed in real life sports, such as swinging the bat or rolling the ball according to the game played. The player moves the remote according to the action in the game; the nunchuk receives the movements and controls the action on-screen. There is a training mode to make player more accessible.

There are certain aspects of the game which are controlled by the Wii. Each game has a standard play mode and multiple player option. It has been attracting more casual, female and elderly gamers. It acts as a tool for exercising and losing weight when played regularly.

This exiting and amazing game has launched in India too, and awaits your try on it. Get home one, get into action.