NEW RISKS FOR ATM MACHINES - ID THEFT BY AUTOMATION

ATM machines provide for great convenience when traveling. However they also present very real identity theft risks. Skimmer systems and pin monitoring camera’s are well know to the police. Less well known is that some ATM machines are not valid machines, but rather machines planted by criminals for a short period of time. These fraudulent machines often dispense cash for a few days and the disappear together with all the account information put into them. ATM accounts are then immediately looted. This problem has been found in New York City, and is common in parts of Eastern Europe and Southern Europe.

Now a new problem with ATM’s has occurred. A few cases have recently arisen of fraudsters pretending to be ATM engineers in order to attempt unauthorised access to on-site cash machines.

The fraudster phones in to an ATM site or office to request the ATM safe access code in order to "update the machine". Typically, the caller uses two phones when he calls in, giving the impression of being busy, and adopting a business-like air. Some sophisticated fraudsters have been known to produce ID cards that have been prepared to support the crime they intend to commit. They may have accomplices who will answer the telephone number on the ID card.

These fraudsters are not only after money, but also after information about transactions.

At KnightsBridge Castle we urge our clients to use only trusted ATM machines – preferably those physically attached to your bank, and to exercise care to avoid skimming. In addition we urge the use of travelers checks when traveling in foreign countries especially mainland Asia and Eastern Europe.