If you do not press the Cancel button of the ATM after a cash transaction, can your PIN be stolen? Click to Know

If you do not press the Cancel button of the ATM after a cash transaction, can your PIN be stolen? Click to Know Newspoint | 2025-08-21T20:39:10+08:00

In today's time, people do online transactions, but ATM is still needed. After doing a cash transaction from an ATM, you must have seen that people often press the 'Cancel' button. They believe that if they do not do this, their details can be stolen. Know here whether there is any truth in this or is it just a myth.

We all must have heard this advice at some time on WhatsApp or from a friend - "After withdrawing money from ATM, do not move away until the 'Welcome' screen comes, and always press the red 'Cancel' button two-three times, otherwise someone can steal your PIN and empty your account." This advice has been repeated so many times that it has become like a rule.

Many people believe in this and press the 'cancel' button after the transaction. But is there any truth in this? Can your hard-earned money be at risk just by not pressing a button? Let's get to the bottom of this claim today and find out how much truth is there in it?

How does an ATM work? First understand its technology

To know the answer to this question, we must first understand how an ATM transaction takes place. Let's understand it in easy steps:

You insert your card into the ATM. After this, the machine asks you for your 4-digit PIN. As soon as you enter the PIN, it goes to the bank's server in an encrypted (ie converted into a secret code) format. You choose whether you want to withdraw money, check balance or want a mini statement. Your request goes to the bank's server, where your PIN and account details are verified. If the verification is successful, the machine gives you cash and prints a receipt. As soon as you take your card out of the ATM, your transaction session is completely terminated and you are logged out.

The most important thing here is that the ATM is designed in such a way that as soon as a transaction is completed and the card is taken out, it immediately deletes all your sensitive information (especially your PIN) from its temporary memory. This simply and clearly means that even if you do not press the cancel button after the transaction, your PIN or your information will not go anywhere.

So what is the real function of the 'Cancel' button?

The 'Cancel' button is used to stop a transaction midway. For example:

You accidentally filled Rs 1,00,000 instead of Rs 10,000. You can correct it by pressing 'Cancel'.

You feel that someone is looking at your PIN. You can immediately cancel your transaction by pressing 'Cancel' and take out the card.

Once your transaction is complete, cash is in your hand and you have taken out the card, pressing the 'Cancel' button has no technical significance, because your session is already over.

The real danger is not the 'Cancel' button, but these things

The fear of PIN theft is not wrong, but its method is not what we are thinking. Fraudsters use these methods to steal PIN and card information:

Card Skimming

Fraudsters put a small, fake device on top of the ATM's card slot that looks exactly like the real one. When you insert the card, this device copies all the information of your card's magnetic strip.

Hidden Cameras

Along with the skimmer, fraudsters hide a very small camera (pinhole camera) just above or on the side of the keypad. This camera records your PIN when you enter it. Now they have your card details as well as your PIN.

Shoulder Surfing

This is the oldest method, in which someone stands right behind you and sees your PIN.

Fake Keypad

Sometimes a fake keypad with a thin layer is placed over the original keypad. When you press the PIN, it records it.

So how to stay safe? 'Golden Rules' of using ATM

Stay alone in the ATM cabin. Make sure there is no one else in the cabin except you.

Before inserting the card, shake the slot lightly. If it looks loose or unusual, do not use that ATM.

Always cover the keypad with the other hand while entering the PIN. This is the most important habit.

Check if there is any hidden camera or strange thing installed somewhere.

Make sure to take your receipt and destroy it properly instead of throwing it anywhere.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. So is it sure that not pressing the cancel button will prevent PIN theft?

Answer: Yes, it is sure. This is a myth. Your transaction session is safely closed as soon as you remove the card and information like PIN is deleted from the ATM memory.

2. What is the most important step for security at ATM?

Answer: The most important step is to hide your PIN properly with the other hand while entering it. This protects you from both shoulder surfing and hidden cameras.

3. How can card skimming be detected?

Answer: Look carefully at the card insertion slot. If its color is different from the rest of the machine, it is loose, there is some glue-like substance on it or it appears to be protruding outwards, then it could be a skimmer.

4. Does this rule apply to ATMs of all banks?

Answer: Yes, the basic security technology and transaction protocols of ATM are almost the same for all banks. Closing the session as soon as the card is removed is a standard security feature.