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Safe Payments Checklist
A quick-reference guide to secure payments — at the ATM, in store, online, and with digital wallets. Print it, save it, share it.
ATM Fortify Security Team
Payment fraud & ATM security specialists — Updated February 2026
Your Quick-Reference Guide to Secure Payments — at the ATM, in Store, and Online
Produced by: ATM Fortify (atmfortify.com)
Last Updated: February 2026
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🏧 AT THE ATM
Before you insert your card:
- Choose a bank branch ATM in a well-lit, surveilled location when possible
- Check surroundings — anyone loitering? Anyone unusually close?
- 30-second check: Look at the card slot — anything protruding or unusual? Gently test: does the reader wobble?
- Look at the PIN pad — elevated? Spongy? Different texture?
- Look above the keypad — anything attached that shouldn't be there?
- If anything seems off: don't insert your card — report it, use a different ATM
During your transaction:
- Always cover the keypad with your hand when entering your PIN — even when alone
- Never accept help from a stranger at the ATM — decline politely and leave
- If your card is retained by the machine: do not re-enter your PIN — call your bank immediately
After your transaction:
- Take your card, cash, and receipt
- Move away from the ATM before putting your card away
- Check your balance matches what you expect
💳 IN STORE
- Keep your card in sight at all times — never hand it to staff who take it away to process
- Cover the keypad when entering your PIN at any terminal
- Check the PIN pad before you type — does it look right? Does it feel normal?
- Prefer chip-and-PIN or tap-to-pay over magstripe swipe when all options are available
- If you notice something odd about a terminal, mention it to the merchant (quietly) and use a different one
📱 DIGITAL WALLETS (Apple Pay / Google Pay)
- Lock your phone with Face ID, fingerprint, or a strong PIN
- Download banking apps and wallet apps only from official app stores
- Enable transaction notifications — know about every payment in real time
- Never share your Apple ID or Google account credentials
- If your phone is lost or stolen: use remote lock/wipe immediately
💻 ONLINE PAYMENTS
- Type your bank's URL directly — never follow a link from an email or text
- Check the URL before entering any payment details — is it exactly the right domain?
- Use a digital wallet (Apple Pay / Google Pay) online where available — your real card number is not transmitted
- Use a virtual card number for unfamiliar sites if your bank offers one
- Shop on websites with HTTPS — but check the URL too; phishing sites use HTTPS
- Never save card details on sites you rarely use
🔐 ACCOUNT SECURITY
- Use a unique, strong password for online banking — stored in a password manager
- Enable two-factor authentication on your banking account — prefer authenticator app over SMS
- Enable real-time transaction alerts so you know about every transaction immediately
- Set a carrier PIN with your mobile provider to prevent SIM swap Identity Theft & SIM Swap: Prevention and Recovery Guide
- Check your bank statement at least once per week
🚨 RECOGNISING SCAMS
Signs of a scam in progress:
- You are being pressured to act immediately
- You are told to keep the contact secret
- Someone is asking you to share an OTP, PIN, or password
- You are being told to move money to a "safe account" — this is always fraud
- A caller claims to be your bank but something feels wrong
What to do:
- Hang up / close the message
- Do not transfer any money
- Call your bank on the number on your card
- Report to Action Fraud (UK: 0300 123 2040) or FTC (US: reportfraud.ftc.gov)
📋 IF YOU SUSPECT FRAUD
Immediate actions (within minutes):
- Freeze your card in your banking app
- Call your bank's fraud line — number on the back of your card
- Say: "I want to report unauthorised transactions and raise a dispute"
- Note the case reference number
Same day:
- Change your banking password from a clean device
- Report to national fraud authority
- Check your credit report for any unfamiliar accounts
- Consider a credit freeze How to Place a Credit Freeze: A Step-by-Step Guide
📞 KEY NUMBERS (Fill In and Keep)
| Contact | Number |
|---|---|
| My bank fraud line | |
| Action Fraud (UK) | 0300 123 2040 |
| FTC (US) | reportfraud.ftc.gov |
| My bank's customer service | |
| My mobile carrier |
This checklist is for general consumer guidance. For professional security assessments for ATM operators and merchants, visit atmfortify.com/contact/
ATM Fortify — Protecting financial institutions and their customers since 2008. atmfortify.com | [email protected]
More resources at atmfortify.com/blog:
- ATM Fraud Prevention: The Complete Guide — ATM Fraud Prevention Guide
- Card Fraud Prevention: EMV, Contactless & Digital Payments — Card Fraud Prevention Guide
- Online Banking Security: How to Protect Your Accounts — Online Banking Security
- Social Engineering & Banking Scams: How to Spot and Stop Them — Social Engineering Guide
- A–Z Glossary of Payment Fraud and Security Terms — A–Z Fraud Glossary
- Consumer Fraud Response Checklist: Card or Account Compromised — Full Consumer Incident Response Checklist
Last Updated: February 2026 | Educational purposes only.
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