The European ATM Security Team has announced the publishing of its first European Fraud Update report for 2010.
According to a news release, the report, which is based on country crime updates from 19 European countries, found that ATM skimming, despite the wide launch of EMV/chip-and-PIN technology, remains a primary security issue in the European Union, with repeat attacks at single ATMs continuing to take place. The information was gathered during the 20th EAST meeting held at Groupement des Cartes Bancaires on Feb. 10 in Paris.
ATM attacks at bank-lobby or vestibule locations, which are accessed by users with card swipes, are still being reported. Skimming related losses outside the EMV area remain significant, with fraudulent withdrawals also taking place within the EMV area because of continued use of the magnetic stripe, or because some EMV card issuers authorize mag-stripe fall-back transactions. Decreases have been reported in skimming at other payment-terminal locations. Some visible anti-skimming devices continue to be overruled by criminals, and the first case of an invisible device being over-ruled has also been reported.
A new type of card trapping device also has been reported, although most such devices remain fairly unsophisticated and cash trapping incidents using the so-called "mouse trap" device were reported by four countries.
One country reported an increase in ram raids, and another noted that the deployment of banknote ink-staining devices had helped to reduce such attacks. Four countries reported robberies involving staff engaged in the transport and replenishment of cash at ATMs, and one of them noted that such attacks are becoming increasingly violent.
Losses from hacking or from data breaches at processors or merchants continue to be reported.
The full report is available on EAST's Web site.
