News

SURVEY: Majority of Canadians remain confident in ATM security

July 9, 2006

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario - Despite a growing awareness of ATM-related fraud, nearly 70 percent of Canadians say they won't change their ATM use. That's according to a consumer survey conducted by Ipsos Reid and sponsored by NCR Corp. The telephone survey, conducted May 30 through June 1, included 1,001 adult Canadians.

According to a news release, the study coincides with the launch of NCR's enhanced suite of ATM-security measures, NCR Secure, designed to help financial institutions maintain the security of the ATM channel. NCR Secure is designed to help the industry anticipate, plan and implement strategies to maintain consumer trust in the channel. Based on a holistic approach to ATM security, the suite includes NCR's global security consultancy, hardware and software technology and enduser strategies to heighten consumer awareness of best practices.

"The findings in this study demonstrate that financial institutions and organizations such as Interac and the Canadian Bankers Association are doing a good job of communicating ways that consumers can protect themselves against ATM fraud," said Nicholas Hames, vice president of NCR's Financial Solutions Division in Canada. "Canadian consumers are heeding the advice. When asked about the activities they undertake to avoid fraud when using ATMs, more than six in 10 (64 percent) check to determine that there is no one loitering in the area while they use the ATM."

Other survey findings:

• 62 percent shield their PINs and the keypad on the ATM.
• 49 percent check around the card reader and the cash slot before using the ATM.
• 47 percent of females use ATMs only during daylight hours; 25 percent of males also restrict their use to daylight hours.
• Only 15 percent undertake no action against being defrauded.

Canadians are the world's highest users of ATMs at 43 transactions per person annually.