Putting your Pin in backwards to alert the police
There's a rumour going round that if you are mugged and marched to a cash machine you should put your Pin number in backwards, which will alert the police to the fact that you are in trouble.
I've heard this a number of times over the past fortnight - it's been mentioned by friends, forwarded in emails and talked about on the radio. 
It's a nice thought this little trick the banks have given us - an emergency call that can be sounded when we are in distress. I like to imagine not only does it alert the police but it also beams out a Batman-style logo above the city skies - perhaps in the shape of a giant cashcard.
This is big business and the police teaming up to get one back over the cowardly criminals who march innocent folk off at knife, or even gun, point to hand over their savings.
Except, of course, it's complete rubbish.
Firstly, have you ever tried calling the police in this country? Somewhat overrun by crime, the need to raise revenue from motorists and detaining people for wearing offensive t-shirts, they generally take a while to arrive. So, they are unlikely to respond to what may be a cry for distress, or what may just be some numpty who can't remember their Pin. And if they do turn up, Johnny Cashpoint Mugger will be long gone by the time they get there.
Secondly, there's a lot of people out there whose Pin numbers are palindromes: 1221; 5445; 9229; the list goes on. And this would mean policemen spending most of their day running backwards and forwards to ATMs.
So, if you are unlucky enough to get marched to a cash machine by a mugger, sorry this trick won't work. Sadly, I'd just recommend handing over the cash and calling the police straight afterwards.
It's a nice story though.
- Simon Lambert, This is Money
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