ATM Pin reversal hoax

This one does the rounds on email but has found a new home on Facebook.

The text to the email or picture (if on Facebook) will go something like:

PIN advice – good information

ATM 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 system 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 the location. All ATM’s carry this emergency sequencer by law.

This information was recently broadcast on by Crime Stoppers however it is seldom used because people just don’t know about it.

Please pass this along to everyone. This is the kind of information people don’t mind receiving, so pass it on to your family and friends.

Sounds like excellent advice! However, Crimestoppers say:

ATM PIN Number Reversal hoax email

We have been alerted to a hoax email that has been circulating purporting to originate from Crimestoppers. It claims that if you enter your pin number in reverse into a cash point the police will be sent to your location.

This information is not true!

This email did not originate with Crimestoppers. It’s content is false.

What to do if you get this email or see it on Facebook? Delete and ignore, though you could point out to whoever post it on Facebook that it is sadly a hoax. Please remember that if you do do it, the Police will not turn up.