March 30, 2009 

Misinformation is being spread via email and on the Internet about a way to alert police should a person be forced to withdraw money from an ATM, or feel threatened in any way.   The report says that an ATM user can notify police or their credit union about a problem simply by keying in their PIN number in reverse.

Canadian Central wants its members and the public to know that is not correct. There is no system that identifies problems in this manner.   The email provides the following false statement: "The machine will still give you the money you requested, but unknown to the robber, the police will immediately be dispatched to help you."

Financial institutions in Canada, the U.S., Britain and South Africa have issued notices that this information is not correct.