dont know if this is true, do you?

Question

Got this in an email from a friend today, what do you think?

PIN NUMBER REVERSAL (GOOD TO KNOW)
>
>
> If you should ever be forced by a robber to withdraw money from an ATM
> machine, you can notify the police by entering your Pin # in reverse.
>
>
> For example if your pin number is 1234 then you would put in 4321. The
> ATM recognizes
>
> that your pin number is backwards from the ATM card you placed in the
> machine.
>
>
> The machine will still give you the money you requested, but unknown
> to the robber,
>
> the police will be immediately dispatched to help you.
>
>
> This information was recently broadcasted on TV and it states that it
> is seldom used because people don't know it exists.

snooksvil...It's not up to you what questions i ask, if you dont like the question then simply don't answer it. Who are you, the yahoo police?

Answer 1

I've had it too. Let's all hope we'll never have to find out.

We can't afford to put it to the test just in case it is true and we get arrested for either trying to rob ourselves , or wasting police time.....

Answer 2

read this article from msnbc
ATM Myth
By Aaron Gilchrist
A warning tonight for anyone who received an e-mail telling you what do if a robber approaches while you're at an ATM.
In tonight's You Want to Know, Aaron Gilchrist explains why you shouldn't be lulled into a false sense of security.

This is the e-mail popping up in the inbox of people with family and friends who think they're sending a caring FYI.

The message directs you to punch your PIN in backwards if you're ever held up at an ATM.

The machine will give you the money and the police will immediately be dispatched to help you.

Finally, the note reads "pass it along to everyone possible."

"I recognize this as one of those urban myths or urban legends."We showed the email to Richmond Police Sgt. Steve Ownby in the Financial and Technology Crimes division.

"The atm doesn't notify the police if you enter your PIN in reverse. It's not going to work and you're not going to get your money either" Ownby told us.

In our area, ATM robberies aren't prevalent, but you can increase your safety. For example, don't go to ATM's early in the morning or late at night.

When it comes to choosing the type of ATM that might provide the most protection, a drive up ATM might be your best option.

"If you're in a vehicle you have an extra barrier between you and anybody that's out there," says Ownby.

Still, criminals are trying new things. Nationwide, an estimated $4million has been lost to skimming. A device is installed over the ATM card reader, and you may not be able to tell the difference.

Ownby cautioned "if you're not paying attention you don't even realize you're even using it. And you can use your ATM and withdraw the money and at the same time your card has been compromised because your account information has already been recorded."

Ownby says alertness is the key... being aware of your atm atmosphere and anything about the machine that may be out of the ordinary.
Story Created: Nov 2, 2006 at 7:55 AM EST

Story Updated: Nov 2, 2006 at 7:56 AM EST

Answer 3

This is false.

Simply put, the ATM will only recoginse the correct pin - it does not "know" what the PIN is, and therefore couldn't possibly work out what it woudl be in reverse - it would just recognise that an incorrect number has been entered.

Don't pay any attention to the prats on here who are giving you a hard time - you asked the question as a genuine quest for knowledge. These weasles clearly spend their days trawling Answers looking for an excuse to act like a kid and chuck insults around the place. I bet they've asked a whole load of questions that migt be considered "stoopid".

Answer 4

This is not true. ATMs have alarms in the event they damaged or broken into. Besides....this is a complicated code for people to remember. By that I mean this: Think...if you were standing at an ATM at night and one to three big, smelly, mean and desperate crack addicts (or some "looking to beat someone for laughs" type) are hanging over you demanding your cash....think you could remember to punch a PIN number in backwards?
Besides...the system is set up to recognize your number in the order it's electronically stamped on the strip at the back of the card. Running the numbers in reverse will not call the police. Do it three times and you'll end up having to come back to the bank and retrieve your card when the ATM swallows it for trying to access the account with the wrong pin number.

Answer 5

Hard to tell where things like this come from. No, the police will not come. Retired as a cop after 32 years. Not a bad idea except every goof ball in the world would be ATMing the police every day for fun.

Answer 6

I am a law enforcement officer and have never heard of such. As well, it is my understanding that this is a hoax which has been spread throughout the internet. I would suggest that you do exactly what a person instructs you to do should you find yourself in that situation, i.e. being robbed at gunpoint. You can replace your cash but not your life! As well, most ATM's have a video system which captures images of the people conducting transactions. It could be likely that your assailant will be captured on that video. Good luck and Merry Christmas

Answer 7

Urban myth I'm afraid. Someone suggested it as a "good idea" in 1996, but there would be all sorts of problems getting such a system to work.

Answer 8

Sounds like a good idea but i dont reckon its true for the reasons mentioned above.

But if they gave everyone a sencondary pin number for this purpose i spose it could work

Answer 9

No way... If you don't enter your correct pin, you do not get cash. Simple as. Just try it three times and watch it swallow your card!

Answer 10

What a load of rubbish!
For one it wouldn't match the chip!