Stopping ATM Crimes at the Machine

An inventor in Illinois thinks he has a simple solution that could help many victims of automated teller machine crimes. He has a patent on software he created that would allow ATM users to enter a predetermined four-digit code rather than entering the user's personal identification number. The code would trigger an alarm with police that a robbery was occurring.

One Illinois legislator, Rep. Chuck Jefferson (Rockford, IL) believes the solution is a good one - enough so that he says he will be introducing legislation in that state requiring the use of the software.

Banks have expressed concern about the cost of the software, but the inventor, Joseph Zingher, says it is as easy as installing a software update on a personal computer.

Copyright © 2005 Bankers' Hotline. Originally appeared in Bankers' Hotline, Vol. 15, No. 6, 7/05