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Fake ATM Fraud Expose

santos_douglas writes "Forget ATMs coming under attack by worms, MSNBC has this article about Dateline NBC's investigative report into fake ATMs and other ATM related scams. ATM frauds are a clever combination of social engineering and hardware hacking. The most sophisticated thefts involve the purchase and setup of real ATMs that actually do dispense cash to avoid suspicion, but are altered to save both the card's magnetic signature and the customers PIN, which are later added to false cards and used to empty bank accounts at real ATMS. The 'ATM gang' profiled managed to purchase and setup 50+ machines and steal over $4 million from over 21,000 customers. The machines can be purchased legitimately and hooked into the banking network with no more than a regular bank account. Less sophisticated attacks include building and attaching false fronts to existing ATMs to collect info, and using covert cameras to collect PINs from afar. The articles has some handy tips for avoiding scams."

3 of 478 comments (clear)

  1. oh shit! by Tablizer · · Score: 0, Troll

    You mean that coin-operated dick cleaner near Michael Jackson's ranch was really just a ..........oh God! I am so embarrassed.

  2. Re:Stop with the Racism by jhunsake · · Score: 0, Troll

    Why are you backing down? Now you're a fag!

  3. Banks don't _want_ secure ATMs by zakkie · · Score: 0, Troll

    When ATM fraud is committed, the individual whose account is stolen from takes the fall. When banks are robbed at gunpoint, it isn't feasible to make just one account holder carry the can for it, so it has to be amortised over a number of accounts. It is obviously cheaper for the banks to allow relatively easy ATM crime than to be robbed at a branch. Remember, no-one ever steals from banks - they only steal from you. Both the banks and the "criminals" I mean...