Banks to ask customers not to use cell phones at ATMs due to fraud

Friday 18th July, 09:00 AM JST

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Latest 15 of 34 Total Comments Show All

DoctorTofu at 10:55 AM JST - 18th July

Mark - that's exactly the point though. Was there a link between Akihabara stabbing and letting cars in there during the weekends? Was there a link between the Hokkaido summit and sealing trashcans and coin lockers in Tokyo? These measures are not meant to be effective, they are meant to be eye-catching, flashy and to prove that "they" ("them" being the government, the police, or some organization, depending on the particular case) are "doing something" about whatever issue currently sells the most commercials on TV...
Zen_Builder at 10:56 AM JST - 18th July

Useless regulation anyway.

All the people I know no longer use Bank ATM's but prefer the combini ATM's. Why hike to the Bank ATM (usually close to a station) when there is a combini ATM close by.

Sure there are some things you can only do at a Bank-ATM and those are usually during the hours that the bank is open and staffed.

Last I checked You could do a wire-transfer at the combini.
WilliB at 11:57 AM JST - 18th July

Another technofix that won´t solve anything. As long as people fall for these scams, the scammers will find a way to get to their money.
jbro888 at 12:44 PM JST - 18th July

oh god. ok cell phones are banned near ATMs.

So instead of using a cell phone to look at info. you use... PAPER

whats the difference? are they going to ban people reading off of paper near ATMs too?
thepro at 12:50 PM JST - 18th July

You have to be naked to use the ATM
electric2004 at 12:56 PM JST - 18th July

The funny point is, when making a transfer by ATM, the ATM asks me to put in my mobile phone number for confirmation if something was wrong. Now, if I don't remember my mobile number (I don't call myself often), I have to take it out to check the number. Well done!
nisegaijin at 01:00 PM JST - 18th July

rubbish! nobody tells me where to you use my cell phone!
cleo at 01:03 PM JST - 18th July

So instead of using a cell phone to look at info. you use... PAPER whats the difference? are they going to ban people reading off of paper near ATMs too?

I think the thing was that the people who were being scammed had no idea how to use an ATM to transfer money, and the scammer on the other end of the phone would 'kindly' guide them through the procedure, telling them which buttons to press when. After they'd sent the money the (usually) old folk had no idea where they'd sent it and no record of having sent it.
USARonin at 01:06 PM JST - 18th July

EnEsGee, I dunno... I once fired my cell phone up in the waiting room of a hospital's ICU and I was near assaulted by a whole mob of sensitive folks.

From that I've learned to fire up my cell phone prior to walkin' on to the ward and keep it on vibrate.

Hope this helps.

USAR
williamsmith at 01:16 PM JST - 18th July

Mobile telephones cause brain tumors. Less use the better.
Ari94 at 01:35 PM JST - 18th July

It is easy to say Do not Use Cell Phone, but some times we have to use cell phone such as, while bank transfer the branch was not showing on ATM screen at that time I called and confirmed the name and told to the bank staff then she helped me out.

Case one example, we all can make mistakes. Suppose we are standing in a row and waiting to use ATM machine, when we reach to the ATM and wanted to send money to some one and realized forgot the account number/bank name etc. Case two example, From Bank call Wife,Husband, Mother/Father and ask hey how much do you need will you tell me again please? Guess what, only because of "refrain from using cell phones near automated teller machines in order to help prevent billing fraud" we have to go out call the person confirm everything then again wait in a long line. I know some of you will say before coming to the bank we must confirm everything but Pal no body is perfect. Some times we are in a hurry.

Solution: Total Ban on sending Money from ATM use bank counters, but you will have to pass Polygraph Test then you are eligable to send money.( The Japanese Bankers Association this is JOKE)
Piglet at 03:05 PM JST - 18th July

Well a more rationale solution will be to stop wire transfer service at ATMs and require people to use bank counters (but the banks should be open much later, at least until 7 or 8pm). In order to transfer money, you shouldn't only need to destination account number but also the name of the person you're transferring to! With informatics, the bank employee would immediately check whether the money is effectively sent to the person it is suppose to go and would identify suspicious transactions.
jonobugs at 10:09 PM JST - 18th July

Most of the reasons that this is ridiculous has already been covered, but I'm a bit confused at how people can pose as relatives. I mean, don't people usually know who they are related too? If it's a long lost cousin, etc, then they have a fat chance in He** in getting money from me.

I don't think it's really fair to pick on people who are not so bright with common sense as there are more than you would imagine and I for one would hate to see my favourite aunt get scammed simply because she's so gullible. How about education? If they're going to be putting up these posters, then why not just tell them, about all the scams that are going on? Or give them tips on how to spot someone trying to scam you? There are many more reasons to have a VALID use of using a cellphone at a bank than illegitimate reasons. How about the fact that they're all in Japanese which you can't read so you call your Japanese friend to help you out when you're doing more than just withdraw money?

Unfortunately I don't know any Nigerians except the ones at the university who say "homersexuality" is a Western invention.

This is a new one for me. Is it when you're about to get intimate with someone, realize you've forgotten certain prophylactics and yell out "D'oh"?
kinniku at 04:36 PM JST - 19th July

Most ATMs are plastered with stickers warning people not to fall victim to 'ore ore' etc scams. Now, with this latest idea I think the next step will be banks advising customers not to talk to anyone in the bank, on the way to the bank, or on the way home from the bank.
delitachan at 12:30 PM JST - 23rd July

I don't see the logic in these measures at all...this isn't going to prevent frauds as long as greedy people out there exist and thier naive, ill-informed victims.