Leaving Transaction Live / Stuck Key Fraud

Police in India arrested a suspect involved in a combined stuck key and leaving transaction live fraud. The modus operandi involved the use of a matchstick to prevent victims from using the keyboard. After the victims’ departure, the suspect removed the matchstick and completed transactions.

Card Trapping / Card Theft / Distraction / Card Swapping

Card trapping was reported in Europe during April. In Thailand, toothpicks were used to trap cards. In the USA, a victim of a honey trap awoke to discover his ATM card missing along with his new friend. Honey traps were also reported in the greater China area.

Cash Trapping / Transaction Reversal Fraud / Denomination Fraud

Transaction Reversal Fraud was detected in Europe in April. An individual, suspected of being linked to transaction reversal fraud in many European countries, was released from prison in Northern Ireland and immediately rearrested and extradited to Germany. Cash trapping fraud continued to increase in popularity in Europe. In some cases, those responsible have previously been linked to card trapping and ATM skimming attacks.

ATM Skimming / Skimming / EFTPOS Compromise

ATM skimming continued to be reported from most countries in April. Arrests included a number of Romanian and Bulgarian nationals. In Ireland, a bank pro-actively blocked a large number of cards following detection of ATM skimming. In Canada, a group of suspects were arrested. In addition to ABM (ATM) skimming devices, illegal drugs were also seized. Significant levels of fraud spend was detected at a casino in Canada leading to the arrest of seven suspects. In the USA, cooperation with authorities in India resulted in the disruption of an ATM skimming gang.

Ram Raid Attacks / Theft of ATM / Smash-and-Grab

Ram raid attacks were reported globally in April. A team of up to six suspects used a digger to remove an ATM in Ireland. In the USA, three suspects were arrested after an alert landlady observed them carrying a stolen ATM into their apartment. In one of many attacks in the USA, an alarm foiled the theft of an ATM using a backhoe. In Austria, an ATM was ripped out of a supermarket.

Safe Cutting / Safe Breaking / Theft from ATM

Cutting equipment set fire to a retail store in the UK during a failed attempt to break in to the ATM. Incidents in Australia included the failure to open an ATM with an angle-grinder within the time limit set by the attackers. Suspects wearing face masks and camouflage clothing escaped from police in Hawaii (USA) following an attempted attack on an ATM.

Explosive Attacks

A criminal was sentenced to four years in prison for involvement in explosive gas attacks. Explosive gas was used in Croatia in April. Explosives were also used in Austria. ATM bombings in South Africa continued in April. In one incident a policewoman was shot dead.

Quick Search Strings:

Theft of ATMs >                                         Failed Theft of ATMs >

Theft From ATMs >                                    ATM Skimming >

Card Trapping >                                         Leaving Transaction Live >

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The above digest is provided by DFR Risk Management, who provide consultancy services advising ATM and self-service terminal deployers and manufacturers, as well as law-enforcement agencies, on how to manage ATM and self-service terminal fraud and security threats.