'Are you embarrassed to hide your pin code when paying in shops?' blog discussion

esuhl

I cover my PIN-entering hand with my wallet (held in my other hand) and even go as far as "pretending" to press other buttons in case any concealed video recorder can detect the flexing muscles in the parts of my fingers that might be visible!

About 1 time in 10 I get so confused with the digits that I'm supposed to be and pretending to be entering, that I type in the wrong number! That should fool 'em (it sure fools me)!

Am I too paranoid?!

IrishGypsy

As a bank employee I've learned to treat my PIN properly, so I unfold my wallet and cover the whole keypad at every cash point (regardless of whether it's inside or out) and I place my closed wallet over my right hand as I enter in the PIN. Now, I've learned my PIN's by pattern and not so much by number. This way, I can hit every key in the right sequence on any PIN pad (without having to see what I'm hitting).

It won't help against compromised machines that read at terminal level, but it should stop a number of other potential threats.

It reminds me of a customer I once had in the branch I used to work, he was 85 and etched a PIN number right into the back of his debit card. Foolish? Not when you realised that it was - intentionally - the wrong PIN and this means any thiefs would naturally think their luck was in an potentially block the card themselves! Very clever I thought.

Frittered_Away

It's instinct for me to cover my hand - can't remember ever not doing it. Same as IrishGypsy, my PINs are remembered by pattern.

In terms of being paranoid - don't forget that to not get eaten in the jungle, you don't have to outrun the lion - only the guy next to you.
In the same vein, you don't have to have the best security, only better than most people! Why would the average scamster bother with watching your muscle flexes when the next person to walk along won't even cover their hand?

vax2002

I write down on a bit of paper : card pin numbers: pin 1, pin , 2 and so on and put the paper in my wallet.
Knowing a thief will think he has hit the jackpot, all the numbers are hogwash, and the machine will eat the card.
stupid is as stupid does, a thief will try cash first and try all 4 pin numbers on each card.
Thanks, threat over

Tixy

Always shield mine, often with my wallet in my left hand as others have said, and touchtype my number using different fingers, which I guess would also make it harder to read.

Yes I'm probably even more careful at an ATM, there is no way anyone stood near me or a camera would visually read my PIN at a cash machine.

Like HappyMJ said, where possible I take the card machine out of the holder and bring it close to me (particularly in wilkos shops where for some reason the card reader is located about 18inches away from where the customer stands - I've seen loads of people's PINs in wilkos), actually even if I didn't do this for security I'd do it because it annoys the shop assistants so much.

Nobody knows my PIN, but I know the PINs of several family members and a couple of friends.

duchy

I usually shield from strangers -or did. Now I shield from people I know too. My neighbour snuck in my back door-took my card to the atm in the local cornershop and drew out £100 then came back into my house and put it back -She then called up the stairs (it was 9am) asking if I wanted to go shopping !!!
The pressure of Christmas makes some people desperate I know-but it ruined my Christmas knowing someone I thought I could trust had done that to me when I discovered it (and saw the cctv footage) later that day.

tara747

duchy - how awful!!!!!

tara747

To answer Martin's question :money: - I always shield my pin at ATMs, and shield it with hand or purse in shops, unless it's v.v. close to me and nobody else could possibly see it.

I have also been known to ask people to stand back at an ATM if they are standing too close to me. They almost always get offended!!! Why do people think that breathing down your neck will get them to the front of the queue any quicker??? It usually has the opposite effect.

Dave_C_2

When I saw the title of this thread I thought "!!!!!!?" I would be embarrassed NOT to shield the PIN entry.

Perhaps some people have too much money and too little sense.

Dave

esuhl

Some people don't seem to have any sense of caution.

A few years ago I was stopped in the street by an old lady who asked, "Would you mind withdrawing £200 for me? I don't have my glasses with me. Here's my card; my PIN is 1234."

Good job for her that she asked me! I guess I have an honest face!