If your bank card PIN is on this list, you need to change it immediately

Your PIN code is the key to your money, and treating it lightly could cost you dearly. With fraud still on the rise, choosing a PIN that’s too obvious makes life far too easy for thieves. The problem? Many people still opt for the simplest combinations — the very ones scammers try first.

The risk of weak PIN codes

In France, card withdrawal fraud alone represents around 3% of all banking fraud, causing losses of nearly €37 million each year. Despite warnings on ATMs and bank apps, many users continue to weaken their security by swapping their default PIN for something easier to remember.

The logic is simple: a four-digit PIN offers 10,000 possible combinations. But if you’ve chosen one of the most predictable ones, the odds of being hacked skyrocket.

The most dangerous PINs

Data scientist Nick Berry analysed millions of combinations and found the most commonly used — and therefore the riskiest — PINs. If yours is on this list, change it immediately:

• 1234

• 1111

• 0000

• 1212

• 7777

• 1004

• 2000

• 4444

• 2222

• 6969

These sequences may be easy to remember, but they’re the first tried by criminals. Using your date of birth as a PIN is also a bad idea — it’s often the first personal detail fraudsters will look up.

Safer alternatives

Berry also identified a set of rarely used codes such as 7063, 6093, 6827, 7394, and 0859. While these may be statistically more secure, now that they’re public knowledge, experts caution that relying on them may not be foolproof. The safest option is to create a PIN that isn’t tied to personal information and isn’t written down anywhere. Memorise it — and only it.

Protecting your money

As contactless payments expand (soon to €80 per transaction in France, up from €50), and mobile payments like Apple Pay grow in popularity, using alternative secure methods can reduce your exposure. Smartphones add an extra layer of protection with two-factor authentication, making them harder to crack than a four-digit code.

Conclusion

Your bank card PIN may look insignificant, but it’s a critical shield for your savings. If yours is on the “red list” of predictable codes, update it today. A few seconds of effort could save you from being part of the millions lost to fraud each year — and give you peace of mind every time you tap, swipe, or withdraw.