ATM Skimming / Skimming / EFTPOS Compromise

Police in the UK released statistics showing that 92% of ATM fraud in the UK is attributed to Romanian criminal gangs; most of those arrested originating from the city of Bacau in eastern Romania. Fuel pump skimming was reported in the US during March. A Moldovan national pleaded guilty in the US to ATM skimming. An Armenian crime gang was convicted in the US in March for involvement in multiple crimes including ATM skimming. Other arrests and convictions in the US for ATM skimming included Bulgarian nationals. Police in Bulgaria made arrests linked to fraudulent spend on cards skimmed at ATMs. Victims of ATM skimming in New Zealand during March received prompt refunds following an investigation. The fraudulent spend on accounts compromised occurred in many different countries. A joint investigation between police in Thailand and Taiwan resulted in arrests. ATM cards were skimmed in Thailand and the fraudulent spend perpetrated in Taiwan. A Canadian resident, originally from Sri Lanka, was sentenced in Australia following eftpos compromise and subsequent fraudulent spend.

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

In a variant of stuck key fraud and leaving transaction live fraud, suspects were arrested in India for stuck touch screen fraud which involves attaching tape to parts of an ATM touch screen to prevent transactions from completing normally. Card trapping incidents during March included some where ATMs near the targeted ATM were marked as out of service to channel victims to the target ATM. Card trapping was particularly prevalent in Europe. Cash trapping also continued in many regions during March. Both external and internal cash traps were reported in Europe.

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

Transaction reversal fraud was detected in Europe during March. An employee of a Nigerian bank was sentenced following internal fraud involving withdrawal of funds from an ATM. Police in Thailand arrested Chinese and Taiwanese suspects thought to be involved in a call centre scam and funds transfer fraud. Also in Thailand, two Nigerian nationals and a Russian national were arrested following advance fee (419) fraud and funds transfer fraud.

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

An attempt to remove an ATM using a vehicle and chain failed in the Turks and Caicos Islands. In the US, a tow rope was used in a similar failed theft of an ATM. In the UK a digger was used in an attempted ram raid. Police arrived in time to prevent an attempted ram raid and theft of an ATM at a service station in the UK. Police in Australia appealed for information following the theft of a free standing ATM from a shopping centre.  A free standing ATM was also stolen from a college in the UK. An ATM in India, protected by CCTV but no security guard was stolen in March. Police in the US made three arrests following a car chase after an ATM was stolen in a ram raid attack.

Safe Cutting / Safe Breaking / Theft from ATM

Police in India interviewed employees of agencies that maintain an ATM following the compromise of the ATM lock and subsequent theft from the ATM. India also experienced cutting attacks in March. An ATM was forced open and cash stolen in Malaysia during March. In a US incident, a sledge hammer was used to break through a wall and break into an ATM. A former bank manager was sentenced in the US following the theft of cash from an ATM.

Explosive Attacks

Industry and Police renewed cooperation in South Africa as ATM bombings continued throughout March.

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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.