Hank Investigates: Wild card

It sounds like security. It sounds like safety.

The click and buzz as your access card lets you into the ATMS locked enclosure might make you think its protecting you. But watch this.

We just opened this atm door with a gift card. We used a movie rental card. Even an expired college ID from 1993 opens the door.

When Sean O'Connell buzzed himself in with his shopping club card he just couldn't believe it.

Sean O'Connell, ATM Customer
"I was like oh my gosh, this isn't right."

Hank
"What did you think about that?"

Sean
"The lock is useless."

In fact we got into every ATM we tried any card with a magnetic stripe worked!

Our investigation found in Massachusetts there are no security requirements for bank ATMS. No requirements for a locking door, lighting, cameras.

David Floreen, Mass Banker's Association
"There is not a uniform one size fits all mandate for ATMS in Massachusetts."

Robbery victims say: that doesn't make sense.

David Breen, Robbery Victim
"The more I learned the angrier I got."

David Breen now teaches at BU law school, but this was Breen in 1991.

David Breen, Robbery Victim
"I remember saying to him, don't let me die."

Breen was robbed and shot in the back in this Brooklyn ATM where he thought he was in a safe place.

David Breen, Robbery Victim
"I found out later that any card could have opened up that ATM."

But not anymore.

After Breen's hold up, New York ramped up security. A state law requiring bright lighting, cameras that work, and doors that can only be unlocked with a bank access card.

But the Mass Bankers insist the any-card access we found is no big deal.

Hank
"These cards give you access to a place where people have money, and that may not be safe."

David Floreen, Mass Banker's Association
"Criminals have access to cards, they have their own cards, they could have stolen them, whatever, so believing that only an atm card could get you in is sort of a false sense of security."

Floreen says ATM crimes are rare; but no one really knows that. No local, state or federal law enforcement agency keeps ATM crime stats. But robbers know ATMS are where the money is.

Inside this Cambridge ATM, a customer was held at knife point and robbed. It was the fifth ATM holdup in ten days.

Inside this Hudson ATM, Emily was attacked for her money.

Emily, Robbery Victim
"He put the knife against my neck and said don't move for five minutes. If you do you'll taste death."

How did the robber get past the locked door? And who was he? Police discovered the ATMS surveillance camera was broken.

Chief Richard Braga, Hudson, MA Police
"Obviously it would be best if all the machines were always working, and there was checks and balances in place to make sure that all these security measures were properly being met. Unfortunately that's not the case at the moment."

Twelve states do set safety standards for ATMS, some include inspections and hefty fines. But in Massachusetts we found broken cameras, unlocked doors and wild cards allowing anyone entry.

Though it may sound like security and look like security those who faced atm reality worry the only thing certain is the risk.

David Breen, Robbery Victim
"What does it take, does somebody have to die?"

We found a bill now before the Massachusetts legislature would require banks to follow minimum ATM security rules. But so far, that proposal has gone no where.

Related Links:
Safety Tips for using ATM's
Massachusetts ATM Security Bill
NY ATM Law

(Copyright (c) 2006 Sunbeam Television Corp. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)