Reverse your Pin at an ATM to call the Police

Is this true ?

You can reverse your Pin at an ATM to call the Police in an emergency.

Answer

This is NOT true.

The Australian Bankers’ Association (ABA) says information circulating in an e-mail about the use of a ‘reverse PIN’ at an ATM is false. From time to time, an e-mail containing incorrect information circulates in the community. This fact sheet has been prepared advising the community about this ‘urban myth’.

The e-mail claims that by entering your PIN in reverse into an ATM will summon police. This claim is false.
Australian Bankers’ Association
http://www.bankers.asn.au/default.aspx?ArticleID=1109

For some years there has been an email circulating stating something like this:

If you should ever be forced by a robber to withdraw money from an ATM, you can notify the police by entering your PIN in reverse. For example if your PIN is 1234 then you would put in 4321. The ATM recognizes that your PIN 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 help you. This information was recently broadcast on TV and it states that it is seldom used because people don’t know it exists. Please pass this along to everyone possible.

Links:

• Australian Bankers’ Association – www.bankers.asn.au