CASE Study: A Report on Global ATM Frauds

The Automatic Teller Machine (ATM) was first commercially introduced in the 1960s.

By 2005, there were over 1.5 million ATMs installed worldwide. The introduction of the

ATM proved to be an important technological development that enabled financial

institutions to provide services to their customers in a 24X7 environment. The ATM has

enhanced the convenience of customers by enabling them to access their cash wherever

required from the nearest ATM.

However, as the banker and the customer are not face-to-face, there is the risk of fraud,

which may affect the customers and also the bank's reputation.

Unscrupulous individuals have devised a number of methods to commit ATM frauds and

these have become more sophisticated in nature over the years. ATM fraud has evolved

from the conventional 'trick of shoulder surfing 'to steal the PIN of customers at the

ATM, to more sophisticated methods such as the Lebanese Loop, use of electronic

gadgets, card jamming, card swapping, diversions, website spoofing, or phishing, ATM

burglary, etc., which can be used to steal cash or ATM cards. Tricks used by fraudsters

for stealing customers' personal details include skimmer devices, fake PIN pad overlay,

and PIN interception. Though the highest numbers of ATMs worldwide are installed in

the Asia Pacific region, ATM frauds are more prevalent in Europe. The UK is often

termed as the capital of Europe in terms of ATM frauds.

Financial institutions have implemented many strategies to upgrade the security at their

ATMs and reduce scope for fraud. These include choosing a safe location for installing

the ATM, installation of surveillance video cameras, remote monitoring, anti-card

skimming solutions, and increasing consumer awareness by informing them of various

methods of safeguarding their personal information while transacting at the ATM or on

the Internet. In addition, a number of organizations across the world such as the NCR

Corporation, Barclays Bank and the MasterCard have introduced fraud detection

solutions. Financial institutions worldwide are shifting from magnetic strip cards to chip

cards to prevent fraudsters from stealing the personal data of customers. There are also

other challenges such as lack of consumer awareness, declining consumer confidence,

and the fact that some financial organizations might conceal small frauds so as to maintain their goodwill in the industry.

Anti-money laundering regulations are being implemented worldwide to prevent ATM

frauds. UL 291 Level 1 quality standards are being followed by ATM manufacturers to

make them tamper-proof. In the UK, ICC Financial Investigation Bureau, the Fraud

Intelligence Bureau, and DCPCU (The Dedicated Check and Plastic Crime Unit) have

been set up to deal with ATM frauds. To safeguard consumer's interests, Japan has

implemented regulations that direct financial organizations to refund fraud victims.

Enhanced security at ATMs and increasing consumer awareness is estimated to decrease

ATM frauds, and boost consumer confidence for using ATMs and transacting online.

Analyze the above case and justify necessary actions in encountering ATM frauds