Banks Fighting ATM Crime

If your institution is deploying ATMs, you are likely experiencing an increased level of ATM crime and vandalism. Recent statistics indicated a year-over-year increase in ATM attacks of 165%. And in many instances, the high-tech deep insert skimmer modus operandi is giving way to the low-tech attempt to snatch a drive-thru ATM with a front-loader, stolen from a local construction site.

The fight against ATM crime is a massive effort. Criminals are very inventive and will eventually find a way to weaken or even defeat new countermeasures. However, they can also be a bit lazy. If your fleet is well-protected, they may just move on to softer targets.

Our largest banks tend to be very involved with law enforcement and efforts to solve the crime, catch the bad guys, and recover at least some of the stolen property. As part of that process, most also have their own systems for tracking ATM attacks – against their own ATMs. However, you ignore what is happening to other ATMs – both bank and retail – at your own peril. 

ATM attacks by organized crime groups, for example, tend to come in waves. The same type of attack repeated over and over again. And even “independent” criminals will often copy-cat what has been successful for others. The point being made here is that the success of crime-fighting efforts can be improved by staying aware of all ATM criminal activity. And including in your security strategy not only attack vectors that are happening, but attack vectors that could happen.

Keeping up ATM crime fighting efforts is even more challenging for small and mid-size financial institutions, who don’t have the resources of large banks – staff or data systems.

The primary mission of ASA (the ATM Security Association) is to provide that kind of awareness to every ATM industry stakeholder. Its global ATM crime database currently contains about 20,000 incidents of ATM crime – which have been accumulated just in the past two years. Other resources include numerous security best practices, quarterly crime trends reports, and a Theoretical Risk Register.

ASA provides the means for any financial institution to anonymously report and record ATM crime, in as much detail as they choose. And to see reported criminal activity in their institution’s footprint. Join now and be among the first to review the ATM Malware, Black Box & Cyber Attacks Best Practices Guide v2. Any financial institution can join for only $500, with access for whatever staff needs it at no additional cost. This a very small investment that will pay for itself many times over.

Best regards to all,

David