Have you ever been scared because your ATM didn’t return your card? I have, and it is an experience I don’t recommend. However, experts advise not to lose your cool. It is true that there are several scams, such as the Lebanese loop, so authorities recommend following certain steps. First, wait a few minutes, as many ATMs notify the error and restart automatically, eventually ejecting the card. If the screen goes dark or blinks, wait up to 15 minutes. If it still doesn’t return the card, it is recommended to note the location of the ATM, the exact time, the banking institution, and any message that appears on the screen.
The main reasons why ATMs do not return cards are when an incorrect PIN is entered multiple times, when it is an expired card, when the chip is damaged, or when the bank has already recorded suspicious activity on the account. Whatever the situation, make sure there is nothing odd in the ATM slot. If there is, it is very likely to be a fraudulent device, so you should notify the bank.
Bye, credit card
There are several fraudulent methods that are recently being carried out at bank ATMs when withdrawing money. That’s why if our card gets stuck in the ATM, we start to panic. However, it doesn’t always mean that it has been stolen; it could simply be a malfunction of the ATM itself, which usually gets resolved without much issue. Nevertheless, it’s a hassle since it means having to deal with a machine or, if not, with the bank.
What to do
The authorities recommend maintaining calm and not panicking thinking that we have been victims of fraud without first ensuring it. In case the ATM does not return your card, wait about 15 minutes before making another decision. Many times, the ATM itself turns off and resets after detecting that an error has occurred, and it ends up dispensing the card again. If after the minutes the situation does not change, it is advisable to gather all possible information to later provide it to the bank: location, exact time, banking entity, and any message displayed on the screen.
Why does this happen?
There are several reasons why an ATM does not return a card, and you should take them into account. On one hand, electronic failures specific to a device can occur. On the other hand, if the user enters an incorrect PIN several times, the ATM detects the irregularity and does not return the card. The same happens if the chip is damaged or if the card is expired.
Moreover, if the bank detects that suspicious and unusual activity has already occurred on the account, it may also not return it. Another possibility is being victims of fraud, such as the known Lebanese loop. This is a device that is placed in the card slot, trapping it and stealing personal information. That is why it is also recommended to check the slot and if you see something strange, alert the bank.
What are banks doing about it?
In case the ATM is located in the bank, the bank staff can help you recover the card on the spot, but you will always need to have personal and official identification with you. It’s useless to contact the ATM company, as it has nothing to do with the incident, but rather with the bank. If you need cash, you just have to go to a bank branch with your personal identification or request a temporary withdrawal code through the bank’s app. Additionally, through the same app, you will be able to cancel or freeze your card to prevent any fraudulent use until they give you the new one.
