"Experts say the answer is that an ATM's safety depends on where it is. If it's at a bank, an ATM is somewhat safer than it is in a public place, such as a ballpark, a train station or a convenience store."

Read the whole article here.

The Farm Fresh nearest to my house used to have a branch of a bank at the front of the store including an ATM. There were robberies at that Farm Fresh a number of times.

There were robberies at the ATMs at banks in Newport News back when Mom wanted to have cash when we'd eat out while our kitchen was not in working order (We had to gut half the house because of mold, mildew, and termites). I convinced her that it would be safer to use her credit card to pay for our meals and that we'd go to the bank closer to our house for cash.

 Anytime plastic is used it's riskier--be it a debit card or credit card--stats are that we spend 18-20% more when we swipe. 

rolo:

 Anytime plastic is used it's riskier--

That's very true for fraud not just spending risk. When we hand over cash, we don't also hand over personal information.

rolo:

Anytime plastic is used it's riskier--be it a debit card or credit card--stats are that we spend 18-20% more when we swipe. 

I think it really depends on the person, though .  I don't carry cash because it flows through my hands like water, I find myself buying things I normally don't, like coffees and sodas since I have the cash and justify it to myself that its not in the bank, so its ok to spend when I normally wouldn't.  My debit card though, I think it over a lot more before I swipe.   Since I don't carry cash, I rarely use the ATM--and only the drive-up one at our bank.  Otherwise I'll just get cash back when I swipe for something else at a store.

arianasilver:

I don't carry cash because it flows through my hands like water,

My husband spends cash faster as well.

One of the things I see with card use particularly ATM is how electronic we have become with our finances. The person who gets their checks direct deposited essentially does not need to stop at the bank to get cash from the teller which may mean more frequent use of an ATM or debit card.

Brandy:

The person who gets their checks direct deposited essentially does not need to stop at the bank to get cash from the teller which may mean more frequent use of an ATM or debit card.

I agree with you there.  I have direct deposit and rarely, if ever, set foot in the bank. DB's work doesn't offer direct deposit, so he goes every Friday to deposit his check.  Whenever I need a dollar or change I ask him, since he must carry cash to pay tolls to get to/from work.

Mom never spent more than a certain amount when she charged a meal; it was the same amount that she would've spent if she'd used cash. The only difference was that if she was robbed, she could get her money back if she called the credit card company and she could never get her cash back if she'd been robbed if she had cash.

Virginia Needlewoman:

she could get her money back if she called the credit card company and she could never get her cash back if she'd been robbed if she had cash.

Yep. Another reason I stopped carrying cash when we lived in Boston. DB was almost mugged two blocks from home with his entire paycheck in his wallet that he'd just cashed that evening, he told them over his dead body and rang someone's doorbell on our street at 3:00 a.m. so they'd call the cops LOL.  Its funny now, of course it wasn't at the time!

arianasilver:

Yep. Another reason I stopped carrying cash when we lived in Boston

Having always been a cash carrier, I have done it much less since moving and relied on my card more. We moved from a small town to the outskirts of New Orleans. I read every day about some crime or another and it's frightening. I take more care with safety.