PIN Number Reversal

That would be an incredible technology. I know it works for security systems, when I used to work in retail we get a security code for the alarm in the store, and when you make it one from what your code is, then it sounds the alarm. For instance, if your security code is 1234, then to enter in an emergency you would enter in 1235 or 1233. This ATM technology would be awesome. The only thing I would worry about is response time. You never know how far someone could get before the police arrive on the scene, and there are some people who would wait until after you already have the cash from the ATM. It sounds like a good precaution, but I'd love to hear more about it and it's practical use before lauding it as the next big thing in ATM security.

This is completely untrue, if you enter your pin number backwards 3 times it will do the same as entering any incorrect number 3 times, the machine will chew up your card! Think about it this way, if your pin number was 9119 and you put that in backwards, it's exactly the same isn't it? I'm afraid this is definitely a hoax, I saw this in an email a year or so ago and checked it online to see if it was true or a hoax - check here http://www.snopes.com/business/bank/pinalert.asp and here too - http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/bl_reverse_pin.htm and you'll see that it's really a hoax :)

My neighbour works at my bank so I will ask her. And since you said CTV, you are talking Canada which is where I am from. This is good information to know if it is correct. But who is monitoring the bank machines, say, at midnight? I'll have to ask about that. Thanks for the info.

I think that perhaps this is a hoax. But, that would truly be wonderful technology to have at ATMS. I can't believe that some security system hasn't hopped on that one! Banks would have to be sure to alert their customers not to choose pin numbers which were the same if placed in backward and forward though!

very good idea, and maybe even if people knew about it it might cut back on some robberies, because how will the robber really know if you entered it backwards or not? I think that is great! I will have to check that out for my bank and if it doesnt exist there I will have to tell them about it! =) Thanks for the information!

that sounds like a fantastic idea huggie! I have never heard of it before myself but if there is technology like that available I think it is something we should all know about! Please let us know if you find out anything for definite! xxx

i heard about it as well in the past... but i think it is a hoax... the atm will consider it as a wrong PIN number if you enter it in reverse order and after that they will eat up your card and you have to go to the bank to request a new card... it is really nice if we have that advanced technology... but i still don't believe it... especially you say the atm will still give you the money as well... i don't think so... how can the atm give you the money if you enter the wrong PIN number??? how can the police know your location??? by the time the police come, the robber might have run away anyway...

i heard about it as well in the past... but i think it is a hoax... the atm will consider it as a wrong PIN number if you enter it in reverse order and after that they will eat up your card and you have to go to the bank to request a new card... it is really nice if we have that advanced technology... but i still don't believe it... especially you say the atm will still give you the money as well... i don't think so... how can the atm give you the money if you enter the wrong atm number??? how can the police know your location??? by the time the police come, the robber might have run away anyway...

Hi maybe in the USA, but like many people have indicated it does not make mathematical sense, because many pin numbers are palindromes, which means it would be the same forward or reversed. Be limiting the pin numbers to non- palindromic option only, will severely limit the availability of possible pin number digit combinations. So no I don’t think this is possible, its classified as an urban myth. The original idea came from a man called Joseph Zhinger (http://www.zicubedatm.com/), a Chicago-based businessman who first visualized the system (SafetyPIN (TM). It got started in 1994 and patented in 1998. Currently banks all over the world apprehend heavy investment infrastructure for this type of security setup. Crime rates at ATM’s does not warrant such a huge capital investment by banks. However, the necessity of such a system assumes paramount importance. It also assumes a great deal of coordination with Police force and they have to be in the act of crime within seconds. THE POLICE WILL NOT BE CALLED, and you will NOT GET ANY CASH. If you enter your PIN number in reverse the cash machine will register this as an incorrect entry, and ask you to re-enter your PIN. Doing this might actually exacerbate the situation, for if the robber gets anxious and is armed he might do something drastic….Life if much more worth than a few $100’s!!!

I didn't know that. Thanks for the info. I will ask my bank if they do that. Thats a good way to alert the police without letting the robber know. Wonder why banks don't tell their customers that?

Wow I've never heard of this but it certainly would be helpful to know if it really is true.

WOW! Really? That is REALLY good to know. i will definitely be passing this information on to people i know. Thank you for posting it.

I've never even heard of that as an urban myth. If it isn't true, they should make it true. If house alarms can be set up to send distress sigals to police stations, why not bank machines where so many people are targetted every year?

i don't know to say I'm only here because the money ahuahuahuahuaha

i have asked my bank about this. they say that there is no such thing as pin number reversal. it does not exist. they even just laughed about it. they did not even think if it's possible at all. so, i don't think this one's true... anne

Hey hb22, I've never heard that before but it may be true????? I'll be watching to see what everyone else says. +'s 2 U :D

thanks for posting this. I don't use a atm but my brother does and i'm sure he will appreciate this little bit of information