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Europol, European ATM Security Team bolster crime-fighting pact

The parties have agreed to share information about card-present and card-not-present fraud, high-tech crime, and ATM malware and physical attacks.

June 12, 2015

The European Cybercrime Center of Europol has signed a memorandum of understanding with the European ATM Security Team that is intended to deepen their cooperation in combating all types of payment crime, an EAST press release announced.

Under the agreement, Europol and EAST will exchange strategic data and other nonoperational information pertaining to card-present and card-not-present fraud, high-tech crime, and ATM malware and physical attacks.

"Europol's EC3 is pleased to further increase the cooperation with EAST, creating further capacity to combat the threats of payment crime," said Europol Deputy Director of Operations, Wil van Gemert. "We look forward to a continued engagement and cooperation with EAST and its stakeholders combating new payment industry threats."

EAST Executive Director Lachlan Gunn also praised the cooperative effort.

"Over the past 11 years, ATM-related payment card fraud has been the major fraud issue faced by many of our national members, but logical and malware attacks are now recognized as an increasing threat," he said. "Our national members represent 31 countries, with a total of 655,398 ATMs, and our working relationship with the European Cybercrime Centre is of great strategic importance to both the public and private sector."

One example of this working relationship is a new document, "Guidance and recommendations regarding logical attacks on ATMs" which Europol prepared in collaboration with the EAST Expert Group on ATM Fraud.

The document was released this week at the 2nd EAST Financial Crime & Security Forum and will be made available exclusively to law enforcement and the payment and banking industry.