Card Trapping / Cash Trapping / Stuck Key Fraud / Leaving Transaction Live

A large number of cash trapping incidents were detected in Europe during September. While recently, a particular model of ATM was predominantly targeted, other models were also targeted in September. Card trapping and distraction techniques were also prevalent in Europe and South Africa. In the UK, a member of the public who had previously been a victim of card trapping noticed and foiled a Lebanese loop attack. Two French suspects were arrested in Thailand following incidents of card swapping. Matchsticks were used in India to jam keys and cause transactions to remain live.

Transaction Reversal Fraud / Data Compromise / Denomination Fraud / Funds Transfer

Eleven Chinese suspects were arrested in Vietnam in September. They are thought to have been involved in vishing and funds transfer fraud. An increase in Transaction Reversal Fraud was detected in September, particularly in Europe.

ATM Skimming / Skimming / EFTPOS Compromise

ATM skimming continued globally through September. Reports from New Zealand indicate two jailed Bulgarian suspects are likely to be extradited to France to face charges including ATM skimming. The reserve Bank of India (RBI) has requested that banks improve ATM security and plan to implement EMV chip technology. Arrests in the US for ATM skimming included a suspect from Moldova. Police in Kuwait prevented three Romanian suspects from leaving the country following fraudulent spend using ATM cards that had been skimmed abroad.

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

In Australia a suspect with alleged links to al-Qaeda was arrested following a ram raid and theft of an ATM using a four wheeled drive vehicle. Two students in the US were arrested after the theft of an ATM from a collage. The ATM was recovered and showed signs it had been opened using a blow torch. A dolly was used for the manual removal of an ATM from a convenience store in the US. A dolly was also used by two suspects wearing security guard uniforms to steal an ATM from a hospital. In another US incident, suspects telephoned a health centre to ask if the ATM had been collected yet, prior to arriving and removing the ATM. Two suspects were arrested in the UK after failing to remove an ATM with a forklift truck.

Safe Cutting / Safe Breaking / Theft from ATM

Police in India arrested a suspect within two hours of a security guard being murdered while preventing a cutting attack against an ATM. A sledgehammer was used in a failed theft from an ATM in the Cayman Islands. A suspect broke into an ATM in Azerbaijan the day after it had been filled with cash. Four suspects were arrested in Canada following the use of power tools to attack an ATM. In Estonia, a Latvian suspect was killed after crashing his motorcycle while escaping from police following a failed theft from an ATM. Police in Saudi Arabia arrested six persons following the theft from an ATM which was opened using its combination.

Explosive Attacks

A propane gas tank failed to ignite in an attempted ATM bombing in the US. Explosive attacks continued in South Africa through September.

Event in Focus

pptiAfrica are hosting ATM & Card Fraud Investigation Techniques training from November 1st to 4th in Nairobi, Kenya. Presented by DFR Risk Management Ltd, the 4 day intensive training is open for registrations by e-mailing pptiAfrica@gmail.com

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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.