The European ATM Security Team published its second European Fraud Update for 2011

July 21, 2011 – Skimming attacks at ATMs continue with twenty countries reporting incidents. Eight countries reported increases in such incidents, and two countries decreases, according to the second European Fraud Update for 2011 published by The European ATM Security Team (EAST). Two countries have reported a new variant of skimming device, and three countries that anti-skimming devices have been successfully over-ruled or removed by criminals.

Despite a continuing fall in overall losses, the trend of the majority of losses due to skimming occurring outside of EMV liability shift areas continues, with such losses reported in 35 countries outside of SEPA, and in 7 countries within SEPA.  The USA is the top location for such losses, followed by Argentina, the Dominican Republic and Russia.  Several countries have now seen the introduction of regional card blocking, with some card issuers blocking domestic cards for usage outside of Europe.

Skimming attacks have again been reported on unattended petrol station terminals, with six countries reporting such attacks.   Anti-skimming devices, where rolled out, have been effective.

Seven countries reported skimming attacks at point of sale (POS) terminals with one reporting card shimming attacks.  In this form of attack the criminals read the data from the EMV chip and use it to create counterfeit magnetic strip cards.  These counterfeits cannot normally be used at EMV compliant terminals.

Ram raids and ATM burglary were reported by eleven countries, with two reporting decreases in such attacks.  Explosive gas attacks were reported by five countries and EAST members are currently investigating measures to counter this form of attack.

EUROPEAN ATM FRAUD UPDATE 2-2011

The above release is based on a European Fraud Update prepared three times a year by EAST, based on country crime updates given at its meetings.  These Updates are prepared by EAST to provide interested parties with an overview of the European ATM crime situation.  They are produced for EAST members, law enforcement officers and other EAST associates, and EAST subscribers.

This is based on country crime updates given by representatives of 21 countries in the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA), and 2 non-SEPA countries, at the 24th EAST meeting held in The Hague on 8th June 2011.

The following countries supplied full or partial information for this Update:
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany,  Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, the Netherlands,  Norway,  Poland, Portugal, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom.

ABOUT EAST

Founded in 2004, EAST is a ‘non-profit’ organisation whose members are committed to gathering information from, and disseminating EAST reports to ATM deployers and networks within their countries/regions. While the main focus of EAST is on ATMs, the group also focuses on all payment terminals that have a direct impact on crime perpetrated at ATM locations.