Pin Number Reversal?

By joining our community you will have the ability to post topics and access other forums reserved for members. Registration is quick, simple and absolutely free. Join our community today by clicking here.

Posted: Mon Jul 06, 2009 9:32 am

I noticed this in one of those emails that gets passed around, on things you didn't know your mobile could do. Is this true? I wouldn't like to discover it's an urban myth with the Wallet Inspector looking over my shoulder.

Quote:

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.

This information was recently broadcast on CTV by Crime Stoppers
however it is seldom used because people just don't know about it.
Please pass this along to everyone.

I presume CTV is Canada, does it work everywhere? Or nowhere?

Posted: Mon Jul 06, 2009 9:38 am

According to Snopes it's a myth

http://www.snopes.com/business/bank/pinalert.asp

Posted: Mon Jul 06, 2009 9:55 am

Yep! its a myth.

Actually it is the subject of a SPAM email that keeps doing the rounds every so often.

My view is, always check with site like Mcafee, Trend etc to see if the subject of these emails if true before sending them on to others. that way you avoid being part of the SPAM cycle.

Just do a Google on "Pin Number Reversal".

Posted: Mon Jul 06, 2009 10:05 am

I don't think the Wallet Inspector would be very pleased as I dicked him around for 10 minutes, thanks!

Posted: Mon Jul 06, 2009 10:31 am

It's true I tell you!

My pin number is 2112 and I keep getting arrested every time I use an ATM which is a real drag. Laughing

Posted: Mon Jul 06, 2009 10:57 am

^^^

There's always one isn't there? Laughing

Posted: Mon Jul 06, 2009 11:13 am

Quote:

For example, if your pin number is 1234

A little over 10 years ago we used to do business with a local bank whose policy it was to have a computer generate a random PIN for your ATM or debit card instead of allowing the customer to choose one.

I received my first debit card with the randomly generated PIN which happened to be 1234. I had to have it replaced about 2 years later. I received it and my new randomly generated PIN was 3333.

Now we do business with a bank that allows the customer to pick their own and it can be 4, 5 or 6 digits. This is much safer. Now I can use numbers nobody will ever guess. I use my birthday, street address, last 4 digits of my SS#......

Posted: Mon Jul 06, 2009 2:21 pm

^^I use the last five digits of the phone number our family had when I was a kid. I won't say how many years it's been since that number was associated with our family (my parents moved shortly after I flew from the nest).

And I couldn't tell you why I still remember it all these years later. But then, I still remember the number on my first driver's license. Some numbers just seem to stick with me.

Baiting Guru Joined: 19 Mar 2007 Posts: 2628

I have great problems remembering all my PIN nos, let alone passwords to gmail accounts, online banking, ebay, amazon Rolling Eyes

But I do mind my mums old Co-op divi number

Master of Master Baiters Joined: 08 Apr 2006 Posts: 571

I'm pretty sure the PIN numbers are encoded on the card using one-way encryption so you can't just pull the pin off the card with a reader. So yeah, the atm machine wouldn't check if you entered the pin backwards. Yay for the internets. Rolling Eyes

Master of Master Baiters Joined: 26 Sep 2008 Posts: 689

Nanny Ogg wrote:

But I do mind my mums old Co-op divi number

Damn you!* I can't remember my mum's any more ... but my Dad's was 3330 ... a very early member (and 40 year employee)

*Now I'll be mulling that over for the rest of the day ... get out of my head!!! Rolling Eyes

Posted: Tue Jul 07, 2009 12:59 pm

Nanny Ogg wrote:

But I do mind my mums old Co-op divi number

Me too, after nearly 60 years. I even use it for the secret question and answer some websites use for account confirmation. With the possible exception of my brother, nobody else in the world knows the answer.