Widely circulated e-mail offering tips on how to respond if one is mugged at an ATM centre is a hoax

You may have received a much-forwarded e-mail from your friends that offers tips on how to react if you are mugged at an ATM centre. You would do well to simply ignore this email, if you happen to receive it, because it is unlikely to be more than just another hoax.

The e-mail that's making the rounds on Internet states that if someone tries to rob you at an ATM, all you have to do is punch in your (Personal Identification Number) PIN in reverse, so the ATM machine sounds out an alarm at the nearest police station.

'It's a prank'
But when Aparna Paul, employee of a finance company who had also received the e-mail, gave it a try, she realised that it's nothing more than a prank. "When I punched my PIN in reverse, the message that flashed on the screen was Invalid PIN."

D R Turakhia, chief manager of Bank of Maharashtra, after thoroughly studying the mail, told MiD DAY, "This mail is misleading
and bogus. It may stand true in some other security settings but it does not work in ATMs."
Likewise, Sudam Chaure, Pune's Cyber Cell Advisor, too confirmed that the e-mail holds no element of truth.
Rajendra Dahale, DCP of city's cyber cell, said, "We'll go through the e-mail to find out its source."
Dahale added, "Criminals may shadow you at ATMs to note your password. We'll investigate if the contents of this email is connected with those involved in such activities."