Can Pressing ‘Cancel’ Button Twice Help Prevent ATM PIN Theft?
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PIB advised all ATM Credit/Debit cardholders to keep their transactions secure and conduct fund transfers in private.
The message falsely attributes the tip to RBI. (Representative Image)
ATM fraud remains a major concern in India, with scammers employing tactics like card skimming, social engineering, and software exploits to steal money and sensitive cardholder data. Recently, a viral message made rounds on social media claiming that pressing the “Cancel” button twice before every transaction can prevent PIN theft. But is there any truth to this widely circulated advice?
The message, falsely attributed to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), urges users to adopt this habit as a safeguard against keypad tampering. It states: “A very useful tip while withdrawing money from an ATM. Press the ‘cancel’ button twice before inserting the card. If someone has set up the keypad to steal your PIN code, this will cancel the setup. Please make it a habit in every transaction you do. Share with your circle of people.”
However, the government later stepped in to debunk the claim, labelling the viral post as completely fake and urging users not to fall for such misinformation. The clarification came from the Press Information Bureau’s (PIB) Fact Check handle on X (formerly Twitter), which stated that the post, falsely attributed to the Reserve Bank of India, has no factual basis.
“A post falsely attributed to @RBI claims that pressing ‘cancel’ twice on an ATM before a transaction can prevent PIN theft,” the PIB Fact Check team wrote, confirming that the advice is misleading and should not be followed.
The PIB further advised all ATM Credit/Debit cardholders to keep their transactions secure and conduct fund transfers in private.
A post falsely attributed to @RBI claims that pressing ‘cancel’ twice on an ATM before a transaction can prevent PIN theft#PIBFactCheck ❌This statement is FAKE & has NOT been issued by RBI
✔️Keep transactions secure
✅Conduct fund transfer in private
✅Conduct fund… pic.twitter.com/hTT64E5bVa
— PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) May 6, 2025
If you receive such messages claiming to be from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), it’s essential to verify their authenticity before believing or sharing them. To determine whether the information is real or fake, you can send a WhatsApp message to +91-8799711259 or email your query to [email protected]. Additionally, verified fact-check updates are available on the official Press Information Bureau (PIB) website at pib.gov.in. These channels help citizens stay protected from misinformation and ensure they rely only on credible sources.
However, this is not the first time the same claim has surfaced online. Similar messages circulated in 2022 and again last year, both of which were debunked by the Press Information Bureau’s (PIB) fact-checking team. To genuinely protect yourself from ATM PIN theft, experts recommend following practical safety measures: always cover the keypad while entering your PIN, use ATMs located in well-lit or secure areas, and inspect the machine for any suspicious devices or tampering. Additionally, enabling transaction alerts and regularly reviewing your bank statements can help you quickly detect and respond to any unauthorised activity.
- Location :
Delhi, India, India
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