Europe has over 400,000 ATMs.....but watch China!

According to the European ATM Security Team (EAST) there are now 403,369 ATMs in Europe.  While growth is slowing, the total rose by 1.3% from H1 2010 to H1 2011.  EAST has been keeping these stats since 2005 and the chart below shows overall growth since then.  You can download a country breakdown from the EAST website.

How does this compare to the rest of the world?  While the figures for Canada and Russia are provided by EAST, I have found it harder to find accurate statistics for the rest (without paying).   My best estimates are as follows:



USA	420,000
China	271,000
Latin America	231,000
Japan	121,000
Russia	100,000
Canada	58,600
India	33,000

Cash trapping continues in Europe, while skimming attacks decrease

The European ATM Security Team (EAST) has just published another Fraud Update (3/2011). According to this most of the reporting countries continue to see an increase in cash trapping incidents, a trend reported by EAST in its European ATM Crime Report covering the period January to June 2011, something that I covered in a related post last month, which also gives some background information on the crime.

Attacks are most prevalent against one type of ATM and upgrades to its cash dispenser are still being reported as 100% effective in preventing such attacks.  The upgrade is visible, however, and this has led to displacement with attacks shifting to ATMs that have not been upgraded.

ATM Cash trapped by a snake..........

A customer using an ATM at a Caja Madrid bank branch in Llodio, Spain got a bit of shock when trying to take money from the cash dispenser - a snake appeared to deter the action.  Apparently it got into the cash dispense mechanism and become trapped!  That must be a first.................

Watch the clip to see the drama - the good news is that the snake was set free and sent to a shelter.