January 7, 2008 3:19 PM PST

Citibank limits ATM withdrawals in New York City

by Robert Vamosi
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In response to a series of ATM robberies over the holidays, Citibank has drastically reduced the daily amounts its customers may withdrawal from ATMs. In some cases, customers of Citibank could once withdrawal as much as $2000 per day, depending upon the account. The new limits are around $500 per day for most customers.

Citibank attributes the action to reports of "skimming," the process of copying someone's ATM card and passcode or PIN, over the holidays. In one scenario, criminals may have mounted a false ATM reader in front of the genuine reader and later retrieved the false panel and its data. To get the PIN number required for ATM withdrawals, a digital camera may have been mounted above the keypad. The physical card data could then be transferred to empty or old mag stripe cards, such as expired hotel room keys. Criminals then could withdraw up to the daily limit on a card until its account was exhausted.

Citibank says it has reimbursed customers whose accounts were tampered with.

Originally posted at Defense in Depth
As CNET's resident security expert, Robert Vamosi has been interviewed on the BBC, CNN, MSNBC, and other outlets to share his knowledge about the latest online threats and to offer advice on personal and corporate security. Listen to his podcast at securitybites.cnet.com or e-mail Robert with your questions and comments.
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Add a Comment (Log in or register) (4 Comments)
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What's a PIN number?
by burgher January 7, 2008 5:24 PM PST
When I go to an ATM I typically enter my PIN (Personal
Identification Number) not my Personal Identification Number
number.
Reply to this comment
PIN number
by Luigi Semenzato January 7, 2008 5:44 PM PST
It goes along with a VIN number, a UPC code, and a DSL line.
12/07 Feds update FDIC, Get ready for a run on the banks!
by cruiseliner January 7, 2008 5:57 PM PST
While most of the population are content in consumer gluttony, those corporations playing the shell game making everything 'fine'.. the wise folk know the fairy tale is over and this will be a painful year.

..sure they are doing this to 'protect' the ATM consumer. Keep an eye on gold and other metals folks.
Reply to this comment
I Hate That BANK!!!!!!!!
by Rollout45 January 21, 2008 3:12 PM PST
Hi Guyz, well citibank use to be my bank, but now i so much hate that bank, after oing with a friend to Bank of America. i am not a rich guy or have so much money saved, but am always on a minus, i always owe them one way or the other. Why am posting this is to let people and the bank know what a scunt they are!!! i just called to see why i have an overdrawn, and i was talking to this guy the next thing is the phone went off. and if you ask him he will tell you that the line went off, but am using a land line and it my office line, so well i will be going over to Bank of America and i will love you guyz to be carefull with that bank, and if you ask me just close the account....
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