Money & ATM Scams in Cape Town

ATM Card Skimming and Shoulder Surfing

Card skimming devices are regularly found on ATMs along the Long Street corridor, at machines inside petrol stations on the N2 near the airport, and at freestanding ATMs in areas with heavy tourist foot traffic such as Green Market Square. A common companion tactic involves a well-dressed accomplice standing close enough to observe PIN entry, then distracting the user with a spilled drink or dropped item while a second person swaps or removes the card.