ATM Skimming / Skimming / EFTPOS Compromise

ATM skimming remained prevalent in most regions in April with increases detected in some countries including Russia. Four Bulgarian and one German national were arrested in Thailand in April suspected of fraudulent spend using ATM cards that had been skimmed.  Bulgarian nationals were also arrested in Spain accused of ATM skimming and the use of keyboard overlays and spy cameras to compromise PINs. PED compromise in New Zealand was linked to international and organized crime in April. Four suspects were charged.

Card Trapping / Cash Trapping / Card Swapping / Leaving Transaction Live

Card trapping incidents in April included occasions where nearby ATMs were sabotaged by jamming the card entry slot with paper. Such occurrences can provide an early warning that card trapping is likely to in a specific area. Indicators can include no transactions being made at an ATM which is normally busy. Cash trapping was particularly prevalent in Europe during April although recent security enhancements appear to have displaced the crime from some geographies.

Transaction Reversal Fraud / Cheque Fraud / Denomination Fraud / Funds Transfer

Transaction reversal fraud continued through April. Pre-paid cards remain the card of choice in many incidents.

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

The central bank of Lithuania warned that ink stained notes should not be accepted following the theft of an ATM fitted with ink staining protection. ATM thefts in April included an incident in the US where an ATM was stolen in a ram raid attack and then the ATM security enclosure was breached inside the stolen truck. The truck and ATM (empty of cash) were subsequently recovered. Police in India tracked the mobile phones and arrested five suspects following the theft of an ATM. The suspects claimed they were inspired by a TV program to steal the ATM. In the UK, a forklift truck was used in a failed attempt to remove an ATM. Chains were used in the US to pull out ATMs in April.

Safe Cutting / Safe Breaking / Theft from ATM

Police in India arrested a group of drunken students who were initially thought to be attempting thefts from various ATM locations. Further investigation uncovered their motivation was revenge after discovering the balance on an account was less than expected and the attacks were vandalism rather than serious attempts to steal cash. In the UK, a digger was used to break open an ATM. A two year US multi-agency investigation into the theft from ATMs using grinders to cut into the security enclosures ended with the suspect pleading guilty in April.

Explosive Attacks

While South African police made numerous arrests involving explosives in April linked to ATM bombings, the bombings continued, often with military precision.

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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.