Heat sensors, new tool in ATM fraud, says bank official

In an effort to alert the ATM customers, Lionel Fernandez, Cluster Head, Madurai, HDFC Bank, in his address during the ‘Secure Banking Week’ drive, said that post demonetisation digital transactions had increased considerably, but on the other hand the bank customers are also facing new challenges from fraudsters.

Vishing, or cheating customers through voice calls, are some of the major forms of digital frauds in Tamil Nadu. In case of vishing, the data related to their bank accounts and ATM cards would be obtained by fraudsters and money would siphoned from their account using the information. 

However, a latest technique adopted by fraudsters is the of use of UV enabled Heat Sensors. 

“Though the technique is at its primitive stage, it may soon take toll in India also. Under the new method after the four-digit PIN entered the last pressed key would be brighter when compared to the previously pressed key. In the process, the first number of the 4-digit password will be less brighter and the brightness of the subsequent entries would increase. The less brighter key is the first number of the pin and the brightest of the four would be the last number. The intermediate numbers would be decided using the level of brightness,” explained Lionel Fernandez.