The Claim Made in the Viral Message

“A very useful tip while collecting money from an ATM. Press ‘cancel’ twice before inserting the card. If anyone has set up the keypad to steal your PIN code, it will be cancelled. Please make it a habit as a part of every transaction you make.”

What are the facts?

This claim is false. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has not issued this advice. Pressing the cancel button doesn’t protect you from PIN theft or card skimming.

The Government of India’s fact-checking service (PIB Fact Check) has confirmed this message is fake. There is no evidence that pressing cancel can deactivate fraud devices on ATMs.

Real ATM Safety Tips

According to ICICI Bank:

• Never write down According to ICICI Bank: your PIN – especially not on your card
• Keep your card private -don’t share it with anyone, even family
• Shield the keypad when entering your PIN to prevent “shoulder surfing.”
• Don’t accept help from strangers at ATMs
• Press ‘Cancel’ before leaving the ATM (but this is just to end your session)
• Destroy transaction receipts after use
• Report lost cards immediately to your bank
• Check your account after deposits to verify proper crediting
• Contact your bank right away if your card gets stuck or cash isn’t dispensed
• Direct complaints about transactions to your card-issuing bank

While it’s good to be careful at ATMs, following false security advice can give a false sense of protection. Always get your ATM safety information from official sources like your bank or the RBI.