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uk Personal safety & immediate danger shoulder surfing • stranger crowding behind you • someone watching your pin • cash machine safety • atm safety uk • cashpoint distraction theft • pin being observed • passcode being watched • someone too close at checkout • card payment terminal pin • keypad privacy • pin pad shielding • suspicious person near atm • distraction while entering pin • someone hovering behind you • personal space threat in public • stop entering passcode • bank card pin compromise • cancel transaction quickly

What to do if…
a stranger keeps trying to stand close behind you while you enter a passcode or PIN

Short answer

Stop entering the passcode/PIN and create space immediately: cancel the entry/transaction, step away, and move to a safer, more public or staffed spot.

Do not do these things

  • Do not keep typing “to get it over with” while someone is crowding you.
  • Do not argue or physically push them away if you can simply step aside and move location.
  • Do not accept “help” from a stranger with a machine, card reader, or keypad.
  • Do not let yourself be distracted by questions, tapping, or a story while your card/phone is out.
  • Do not rely on any “reverse PIN” or “duress PIN” trick—most ATMs/payment systems do not support this.
  • Do not follow them somewhere quieter to “sort it out”.

What to do now

  1. Stop the entry immediately. Take your hands off the keypad/screen. If you’re at an ATM/cash machine or payment terminal, press Cancel (or end the transaction) and keep hold of your card/phone.
  2. Step out of the “behind-you” position. Take one or two steps to the side so they can’t stay directly behind you, and put a solid object between you if possible (ATM housing, pillar, queue barrier).
  3. Move to a safer spot—don’t negotiate.
    • If you’re in a shop: walk straight to the counter, a staff member, or security.
    • If you’re at an ATM: move away from the machine and toward a well-lit, busy, or staffed area (for example, inside a bank branch during opening hours, or back into a shop).
  4. Name what you need, briefly, to staff. “Someone’s crowding me while I enter my PIN—can you help me finish this somewhere with space?”
  5. If you still need to complete a PIN entry, change the setup first. Choose a different till/terminal/ATM if available, stand close to the keypad, and shield the keypad/screen with your body and free hand. If the person follows or crowds again, stop and step away.
  6. If you’re at an ATM, quickly check for tampering before you try again elsewhere. If anything looks loose, added-on, or unusual around the card slot/keypad, don’t use it—leave and use another cashpoint in a safer location.
  7. If you think they saw it (or you’re not sure), treat it as compromised. As soon as you’re in a safer place, use your bank’s app/phone number to freeze/lock the card and ask how to reset/change your PIN (or request a replacement card if advised).
  8. Escalate if you feel threatened. Go to a staffed place. Call 999 if you feel in immediate danger. If it’s not an emergency but you want to report suspicious behaviour, contact police via 101.
  9. If money is taken or you see an unauthorised transaction, report it once you’re safe. Contact your bank immediately. For fraud reporting: use Report Fraud if you live in England, Wales or Northern Ireland; if you’re in Scotland, report to Police Scotland (via 101).

What can wait

  • You do not need to decide right now whether this was “definitely a criminal” or “probably nothing”.
  • You do not need to confront them, follow them, or prove what they were doing.
  • You do not need to make lots of account changes on the spot—prioritise card lock/freeze and getting somewhere safe first.

Important reassurance

You’re not being “paranoid” by stopping. Crowding someone during a PIN/passcode entry is a known tactic, and pausing the transaction is a normal, sensible response.

Scope note

This is first-steps-only guidance for the next few minutes. If money is missing or your details are used, your bank and the relevant reporting route can guide the next steps.

Important note

This is general safety information, not legal or financial advice. If you feel at risk right now, prioritise getting to a safer place and contacting emergency services.

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