The present invention relates to a method for operating an automated teller machine (1) for retrieving a card (2) inserted by a user that has been swallowed by a card reader (14) of the automated teller machine (1), characterized in that it comprises the following steps, performed by a processing unit (11) of the automated teller machine (1 ): determining (f) whether said user is present or not in front of the automated teller machine (1); and if it determined that the user is present in front of the automated teller machine (1), instructing (g) the card reader (14) to release the card (2).