Reutlingen – With the already well-known scam, so-called “cash trapping”, criminals are currently trying to get back money that unsuspecting customers want to withdraw from financial institution ATMs.
In the period between May 31, 2017 and June 30, 2017, a total of nine cases became known in which the perpetrators manipulated the ATMs in Grafenberg, Betzingen, Ohmenhausen, Wannweil, Gomaringen and Reutlingen. In one case on Kaiserstrasse in Reutlingen, damage was avoided because the attentive withdrawer, a 63-year-old man, noticed the cover on the dispensing shaft, tore it off and took the money that was stuck there. In the other cases, the blinds were not noticed, so the perpetrators were able to steal over 2,000 euros.
How do the perpetrators proceed?
Cash trapping is a special form of theft from ATMs. A deceptively real-looking aluminum cover is glued over the cash dispenser slot. The actual dispensing slot of the cash dispenser is therefore no longer visible. The attached panel has an adhesive tape on the back, which prevents the money from being dispensed or withdrawn from the machine. The bills then literally stick to this applied panel. The ATM will work fine until then.
However, the customer cannot get his requested money because there is this panel in front of the cash dispenser slot. Instead, after a while, a message indicating a malfunction appears. Most customers then leave the bank and go to another ATM. This is the moment when the thief comes into action. He removes the panel and takes the banknotes stuck inside. According to current findings, the phenomenon of cash trapping is currently occurring increasingly throughout southern Germany.
Police tips:
- Before you insert your card into the ATM, check whether any changes have been made to the issuing slot and, if in doubt, contact a bank employee immediately.
- In any case, stick to the ATM. Don't let a seemingly helpful stranger lure you away from the machine.
- Ask another customer to call a bank employee. For ATMs outside of banks, you may need to call the bank using your cell phone.
- Contact the police immediately, especially outside the opening hours of banks and credit institutions.
- Watch out for suspicious people/vehicles in the area of the ATMs, as at least two or three perpetrators are regularly active and observe the withdrawal process and promptly remove the stuck cash.
- If the visors have already been removed, you must immediately hand them over to the police.
Notes:
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