Threats concerning bank and credit cards

Using the ATMs is a popular, widespread form of drawing cash. Since it became a part of our everyday lives, sometimes we tend to use automats cautiousless, as a routine. That’s why, please, don’t forget, that the criminals also can get cash from the ATMs as quickly as you do. Please, take care of the following! If it is possible, choose an ATM, which is in a separate place, locked by door. This decreases the risk that you will be surprised from the back. It is even better, if you are not alone when drawing money from the ATM. By doing this, you can prevent being forced to draw money or your money will not be taken away instantly after you have drawn it. Always enter your PIN code in a way as nobody could see it. Always count accurately the cash coming out of the ATM. A certain criminal method is already well-known by the police when the criminals use a piece of metal to hinder the banknotes to appear in the slot.

The other group of thefts, concerning credit cards, consist of situations when you pay with card. We had cases when the card, which was used to pay with, was “cloned”, copied by the criminals, so they could have an access to the content of the bank account. When shopping, always keep an eye on your credit card. If the shop assistant makes suspicious movements, takes your card to a back room or pulls it through the machine twice, we suggest rather asking for erasing the transaction and pay with cash. Enter your PIN code in a way as no one else could see it.

Pickpocketing is a typical urban form of committing a crime. The pickpockets prefer crowd. They “work” on different means of public transport, crowded buses, trams, undergrounds. These pickpockets are usually youth people in their teens, twenties wearing worse clothes than the average and carrying a piece of clothes on the arm to cover their movements. They never work alone. They have their groups, where the certain roles are given. Someone is watching and spots out the potential victim. Some group members raise a conflict, pick a quarrel with the normal travellers, push and pull them while the other members take away the content of the handbag and pocket. Attention! The pickpockets specialise on foreign tourists! They presume, that the tourists carry bigger amount of cash, more valuables and they are less cautious and careless because their attention is distracted by the sights and the new environment. Unfortunately, that is true. Be an exemption! Carry only the necessary amount of money and valuables, and keep them in your pocket or under strict control. Use a belt bag that cannot be easily loosened. Keep your camera in a bag and cross it over your shoulder. Don’t wear eye-catching jewellery. Pay attention if somebody behaves suspicious next to you! Don’t put your handbag in the back; always keep it tight to the chest or under your arm.