ATM criminals increasingly use thin insert skimmers

Picture courtesy of EAST

The European ATM Security Team (EAST) has been reporting the usage of insert skimmers at European ATMs for some time now.  In a Fraud update published last month they stated that a new form of mini-skimmer was reported by one country, specially adapted to fit the card reader of one ATM type.  This mini-skimmer, which can be seen in the image to the right,  was used in conjunction with a new style of video camera for PIN compromise.

ACCA USA publishes Report on Skimmer Fraud

The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) in the USA has published a new research report entitled “Skimming the Surface – How Skimmer Fraud Has Become a Global Epidemic”.  The report was produced by Pace University, sponsored by ACCA USA.    

The report’s author, Dr Darren R. Hayes of Pace University, attended the first global conference of the European ATM Security Team (EAST), the EAST Financial Crime and Security (FCS) Forum, in June 2013.and EAST and its members subsequently assisted with research.

Contactless technology for ATMs?

Contactless technology is already available for ATM cash withdrawals, with some pilot studies in operation. The European ATM Security Team (EAST) ran a website poll on this topic from October to December 2013.

74% of respondents indicated that they would be happy to use this technology (card or smartphone) to make an ATM withdrawal. 67% would happy to do this with a PIN and 7% without a PIN, while 26% indicated that they would not want to use the technology.

ATM explosive attacks and low tech fraud incidents increase in Europe

The European ATM Security Team (EAST) has just published a European ATM Crime Report covering the first six months of 2013.  This shows significant rises in both low tech fraud incidents and ATM explosive attacks, while card skimming incidents fell again.

The overall increase in low tech fraud incidents is due to a surge in the number of cash trapping and transaction reversal fraud incidents.  7,885 such incidents were reported, up 77% from the 4,464 incidents reported in H1 2012.  While both these attack types can succeed in the EMV environment, as normal transactions take place on EMV cards, criminals get less from them than from high tech skimming attacks. The chart below shows an analysis of the overall figures since 2005.

The European ATM Security Team creates new membership category

The European ATM Security Team (EAST) has created a new Associate Membership category.  Banks and other approved ATM stakeholders from any country can now apply to join EAST through this category.  For more information visit the Associate Membership page on the EAST website.  According to the related EAST press release:

"In 2011 EAST embarked on a long term strategic planning process designed to take the Group to the next stage of its development. Up to now the focus has been on strengthening our national membership. As many of the threats we are facing are global, and with European ATM related fraud losses now increasingly seen outside of Europe, EAST decided to open the new Associate Membership category globally. It is hoped that this will help to further improve flows of information into and out from the Group. In 2013 EAST is planning to hold its first annual conference, with an Agenda set by our national members.”

 

 

 

 

ATM fraud losses continue to migrate away from EMV liability shift areas

The European ATM Security Team (EAST) has just published a second Fraud Update for 2012.   This states that:
 "The continued migration of fraud losses away from EMV Chip liability shift areas continues.  From January 2012 to June 2012 such losses were reported in 46 countries and territories outside of the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) and in 11 countries within SEPA.  The USA remains the top location for such losses, followed by Peru, Mexico and Brazil."  Next on the list are Thailand and the Dominican Republic.  What does this mean? 

Latest update from the European ATM Security Team (EAST)

The European ATM Security Team (EAST) has just published its February 2011 News Update, the first one available directly through the social media.  There are several articles including ones on Stained Banknotes, the latest EAST meeting, a Case Study and more.........to read the full update click on the following link http://createsend.com/t/r-7C0DBD362A7E1953