Inputting your personal identification number (PIN) back-to-front into automatic teller machines (ATMs) does not alert the police that you are being forced to withdraw money, the Changhua County Police Department said yesterday.
According to police, the rumor — which is currently being circulated on the Internet — began abroad in 2006 and had spread to Taiwan by 2007.
US lawyer Joseph Zingher patented software he called ATM Safety PIN, which would act as a duress code that customers could use if they were forced to withdraw money.
Zingher attempted to persuade banks and financial institutes to use his system over a period of 10 years, but no banks have employed his invention.
Zingher said in 2006 on CNN program Money with Joshua Hyatt: “They [the banks] know customers are scared of ATM crime, so the banks don’t want to talk about the problem.”
The software, if implemented, would have invalidated PIN codes such as “8888” or “2112,” which are the same even when entered in reverse, the Changhua police department said.
The police department confirmed with the Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC) that the information is a hoax, adding that people should be aware of false information on the Internet.
The police also called on people to remain alert when withdrawing money at ATMs and to be on the lookout for suspicious behavior, or objects, adding that ATMs in dark or remote areas should be avoided late at night.
Travel in groups when using such ATMs the police said, adding that citizens can call the 110 hotline to ask for police protection when withdrawing large sums of money.
Taiwan is to receive the first batch of Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 70 jets from the US late this month, a defense official said yesterday, after a year-long delay due to a logjam in US arms deliveries. Completing the NT$247.2 billion (US$7.69 billion) arms deal for 66 jets would make Taiwan the third nation in the world to receive factory-fresh advanced fighter jets of the same make and model, following Bahrain and Slovakia, the official said on condition of anonymity. F-16 Block 70/72 are newly manufactured F-16 jets built by Lockheed Martin to the standards of the F-16V upgrade package. Republic of China
Taiwan-Japan Travel Passes are available for use on public transit networks in the two countries, Taoyuan Metro Corp said yesterday, adding that discounts of up to 7 percent are available. Taoyuan Metro, the Taipei MRT and Japan’s Keisei Electric Railway teamed up to develop the pass. Taoyuan Metro operates the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport MRT Line, while Keisei Electric Railway offers express services between Tokyo’s Narita Airport, and the Keisei Ueno and Nippori stations in the Japanese capital, as well as between Narita and Haneda airports. The basic package comprises one one-way ticket on the Taoyuan MRT Line and one Skyliner ticket on
A new tropical storm formed late yesterday near Guam and is to approach closest to Taiwan on Thursday, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Tropical Storm Pulasan became the 14th named storm of the year at 9:25pm yesterday, the agency said. As of 8am today, it was near Guam traveling northwest at 21kph, it said. The storm’s structure is relatively loose and conditions for strengthening are limited, WeatherRisk analyst Wu Sheng-yu (吳聖宇) said on Facebook. Its path is likely to be similar to Typhoon Bebinca, which passed north of Taiwan over Japan’s Ryukyu Islands and made landfall in Shanghai this morning, he said. However, it
Starlux Airlines, Taiwan’s newest international carrier, has announced it would apply to join the Oneworld global airline alliance before the end of next year. In an investor conference on Monday, Starlux Airlines chief executive officer Glenn Chai (翟健華) said joining the alliance would help it access Taiwan. Chai said that if accepted, Starlux would work with other airlines in the alliance on flight schedules, passenger transits and frequent flyer programs. The Oneworld alliance has 13 members, including American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific and Qantas, and serves more than 900 destinations in 170 territories. Joining Oneworld would also help boost