News

TMD tackles card-trapping fraud in Europe

November 4, 2013

Though ATM card skimming still represents 98 percent of all cash losses associated with card fraud, card trapping has recently re-emerged in Europe — and the number of incidents is rising at an alarming rate. According to the European ATM Security Team, at least 2,766 card-trapping incidents occurred in 2012, an increase of 77 percent over the previous year.

The attraction for fraudsters is that a trapped card can be used anywhere to withdraw cash from an ATM — even in an EMV environment — as long as they have recorded the card holder's PIN via a hidden camera or shoulder-surfing.

To combat the new card-trapping trend, ATM security solutions provider TMD Security has developed a new anti-trapping bezel to protect cardholders from the risk of card trapping. 

The bezel is made of attack-resistant material and is designed to make it virtually impossible for a criminal to add a fraudulent device. The bezel also contains TMD Card Protection Kit anti-skimming technology.

The component is available in any color, and can be produced to match the deployer's branding — or to stand out from the machine as a visible deterrent to criminals.

"Card trapping is a very personal crime — physically coming between our customers and their cardholders," said Cees Heuker of Hoek, CEO of TMD Security. "While ATM deployers continue to try and minimise the risk of hard cash losses associated with fraud, first and foremost they also want to demonstrate to their customers that whenever they use an ATM they can be confident that their card and their money are safe."

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