Cash machine crime – could you spot the scam?

By Paul Smith

A couple of years ago, the contraptions fitted over cash machines to steal card details were laughable – big lumps of ugly plastic crap fitted over cards slots that were so blindingly obvious, how did anybody fall for them? They were the sort of egg-carton constructions Blue Peter would have produced back in the day. Before all that Tracey Island bollocks.

The scammers clearly recognised this, so they’ve gone back to school to create very intricate devices – how many of us would spot whether a fake keypad had been overlaid on top of the real thing? And if it’s not the keypad, this security blog shows how whole panels are being molded from the same material as the cash machine facade. Just keep it under the bed in a biscuit box, love:

Bitterwallet - scammers and cash machines

[Krebs on Security] via [Boing Boing]

Tags: atms, cash machines, scams
Posted in scams February 2nd, 2010 | 8 Comments

This entry was posted on Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010 at 10:00 am and is filed under scams. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

8 Responses to “Cash machine crime – could you spot the scam?”

Posted by Klingelton | February 2nd, 2010 at 11:31 am

japanese for machine… domo arigato mr roboto.
Posted by Bill Bennett | February 2nd, 2010 at 11:37 am

It’s what a Transformer turns into when hiding in your kitchen cupboard.
Posted by David | February 2nd, 2010 at 11:37 am

Let’s not forget that an untampered ATM machine is still scamming you. Look at the profits and bonuses and lying from banks. They should deal with those criminals not just the ones sticking devices to ATMs (at least they are imaginative about it – they work harder than the banks do to get your money!).
Posted by Jase | February 2nd, 2010 at 12:57 pm

There’s certin ATM’s that I just won’t use…nearly always seem to be charge ones (and the charge isn’t the issue). It’s usually because they have some funky method of doing things.

Like a card insert where the card is still visible (and removable). Unbelievably slow processing (enough to make you think its broken). Weird method of transaction.

Also to do with appearance…I don’t use the ones with the weird bobble on the card insert bit. To me nothing should protrude from the machine. Better ones will be completely flush to the machine and have the flashing green rim.
Posted by Ian | February 2nd, 2010 at 1:42 pm

To be fair, with some criminals if they steal my money I just have to take my hat off. At least it is a lot better than being mugged in the street.
Posted by Andrew Robinson | February 2nd, 2010 at 2:24 pm

I got my card done off a machine in Newcastle City Centre just before Christmas. I’m really careful with devices so it must have been very well done!
Posted by Mr Greggles | February 3rd, 2010 at 11:32 am

The real scam is the cash machine in the pub. Strategically placed so that I’m too pissed to be sensible and avoid it – and it charges £150 per transaction!!!

Or was that £1.50?
Posted by charitynjw | February 3rd, 2010 at 4:45 pm

Absolutely disgraceful! (& where did you say you could buy these machines?)