HERAKLION, Greece and BRUSSELS, September 6 /PRNewswire/ --

- Annual Cash Machine Losses in Europe Approach EUR 500 Million: ENISA 
Provides Advice for Consumers

With the annual cost of ATM crime in Europe approaching half a billion
Euros, ENISA, the European Network and Information Security Agency, is urging
consumers to be more aware of the risks and take precautions to avoid
personal loss. The rapid growth in the number of ATMs, combined with more
sophisticated attacks and fraud has resulted in an alarming 149% rise in ATM
attacks in 2008.

These worrying findings, along with information and case studies
highlighting the different ATM crimes and recommendations to help detect and
prevent them, are published this week in a paper by ENISA entitled 'ATM
Crime: Overview of the European situation and golden rules on how to avoid
it.'

The number of ATMs in Europe increased 6% last year to almost 400,000,
with many now found in remote site locations such as convenience stores,
airports and petrol stations. Seventy-two percent of European ATMs are
located in just five countries: UK, Spain, Germany, France and Italy.

Cash taken illegally from ATMs is still the preferred method for
criminals who obtain pin numbers using a wide range of techniques from
'shoulder surfing' to complex skimming techniques. This can involve the usage
of a small spy camera, a false PIN overlay and even fake machines; while
increasingly Blue Tooth wireless technology is used to transmit card and PIN
details to a nearby laptop computer. During 2008 alone, a total of 10,302
skimming incidents were reported in Europe.

Other methods used to extract money include trapping and then retrieving
users' cards, stopping withdrawals in the middle of a transaction only to
complete them when the victim has left and even trapping cash in the machine.
Organised criminal gangs are also using sophisticated phishing techniques and
hacking into bank computer systems and web sites to obtain PIN and account
information.

ATM burglaries and physical attacks have also seen an increase by 32%
over the last 12 months from ram raids and explosions to the use of rotary
saws, thermal lances and diamond drills.

"ATMs are attractive to criminals because they contain bank notes, while
the bank cards themselves give thieves access to customers' bank accounts,"
said Mr. Andrea Pirotti, Executive Director at ENISA. "Looking ahead, ATM
crime is likely to become even more attractive as the latest generation of
ATMs is designed to dispense other services and products such as phone top
ups and stamps. The first line of defence against ATM crime is increasing
awareness of the risks so that users can take simple precautions such as
shielding their PIN when entering it and by keeping alert to any signs of
tampering or suspicious activity at an ATM."

The paper published this week by ENISA recommends that further
information and advice are provided nationally in EU Member States by banks,
financial institutions, payment schemes and law enforcement agencies. As part
of this process ENISA has drawn up its list of Golden Rules to offer maximum
protection with minimum effort.

ENISA Golden Rules

Choosing an ATM Machine

1) Don't use ATMs with extra signage or warnings

2) Try to use ATMs inside banks

3) Don't use freestanding ATMs

Physical surroundings

4) Use an ATM which is in clear view and well lit

5) Be cautious of strangers and check they are at a reasonable
distance away

Making Operations

6) Pay careful attention to the front of the machine for
Tampering

7) Pay attention to the card reader for signs of additional devices

8) Look carefully for differences or unusual characteristics of the
ATM's PIN pad

9) Look out for extra cameras

10) Protect your PIN by standing close to the ATM and shielding the

key pad

11) Report confiscated cards immediately

12) Beware of ATMs that don't dispense cash and non-bank ATMs that
don't charge fees

Statement Reviews

13) Frequently review your account statements

14) Report any suspicious activity immediately

"Information security has, for too long, been focusing on technical
solutions to maximise protection," continued Pirotti. "Most ATM crime is
focused on exploiting the human element and card holders must be more aware
of the risks they are exposed to and how to prevent fraud occurring. We hope
this latest report will be the start of an on-going process to increase
awareness and reduce the growing cost of ATM crime."

About ENISA

ENISA is the European Network and Information Security Agency, a centre
of expertise set up to provide advice and recommendations to EU Member States
and EU Institutions on issues of network and information security. The
Agency's mission is to achieve a high level of network and information
security within the European Union for the benefit of citizens, consumers,
business and public sector organisations using technologies such as
broadband, online and ATM banking, ecommerce, and mobile phones.

For further information visit:

The full report is available at:

http://www.enisa.europa.eu/doc/pdf/publications/ATM_crime.pdf

For further details contact:

Allie Andrews, PRPR, Tel: +44-1442-245030, email: allie@prpr.co.uk;
Sarah Capogrossi, Press and Communications Assistant, ENISA, Mob: 
+30-6948-460124,email: sarah.capogrossi@enisa.europa.eu