ATM security - don't enter your PIN backwards

I was mildly amused to see a release from APACS, the bank payments association, advising bank customers to be careful when they visit outside ATMs.

Buried in the list of top tips - including being aware of anyone watching you drawing your dosh - was the interesting point that "contrary to recent speculation, if you enter your PIN backwards at a cash machine it will NOT alert law enforcement of a potential threat."

"It will only serve to delay your withdrawal and may incite frustration from would-be assailants," says the advisory.

Interesting - I wasn't even aware there was such a rumour circulating, although it seems that this rumour stems from the fact that a US businessman called Joseph Zingher patented a `Security PIN' system that required users to enter their PINs backwards to alert the authorities to lock down their accounts.

You couldn't make this stuff up, could you...