These are the findings of a study released by the European ATM Security Team (EAST), which also indicates that cash trapping activities have been the main reason for such an increase. EAST has also revealed the fact that 6,756 out of 11,220 ATM infractions are due to cash trapping.
However, losses due to ATM fraud attacks have decreased by 28 percent, reaching EUR 112 million, as compared to EUR 144 million registered during the first six months of 2010. This is a result of a reduction in card skimming attacks, which also fell by 22 percent. Although 77 percent of the losses due to ATM attacks are global, the majority of these card skimming activities take place in Europe.
The study also indicates that physical attacks on European ATMs have decreased by 21 percent, as compared to the first six months of 2010. Yet, the overall number of incidents is much higher than last year.
This is based on a report prepared twice a year by EAST which provides an overview of the European ATM crime situation for law enforcement officers and EAST members. The number of European countries which have been involved in this study reaches 23.
A cash trapping activity simulates a genuine transaction but in reality criminals will remove the money immediately after the cardholder has left the ATM.
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