The Bermuda Police Service has received queries about an e-mail currently in circulation that pertains to the safety features of ATM machines and PIN numbers. After confirming with local and overseas financial institutions we are confident that the information contained in the e-mail is simply untrue. For further information, please contact your relevant financial institution.

Below is a copy of the fraudulent e-mail:

PIN Number Reversal (Good To Know)

If you should ever be forced by a robber to withdraw money from an ATM machine, you can notify the Police by entering your PIN # in reverse. For example if your PIN number is 1234 then you would put in 4321. The ATM recognizes that your PIN number is backwards from the ATM card you placed in the machine.

The machine will still give you the money you requested, but unknown to the robber, the Police will be immediately dispatched to help you. This information was recently broadcasted on TV and it states that it is seldom used because people don't know it exists. Please pass this along to everyone possible.