Tag Archive for: ATM security

5 Ways to Improve ATM Safety

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ATM safety is just as important as monitoring any other area where financial transactions are made or cash is kept. Where there is money, there will be thieves trying to get to it.

You don’t need to abandon your ATM business because of potential risks. It is no more vulnerable than any cash register anywhere. You simply need to remain aware of threats. Just like you know where your purse or wallet is at all times, or monitor your bank statements for unauthorized transactions, or keep your personal vault barricaded and locked, utilize this same diligence to improve ATM safety.

Make sure you take appropriate precautions and don’t cut any corners when it comes to securing your ATM machine. Follow these 5 ATM safety tips to ensure that your assets as well as your customers’ data remain secure.

Common Threats to ATM Safety

ATM safety threats apply to the ATM cash itself as well as to customer card information and account access. ATM attacks can be logical or physical. 

Physical Attacks

Physical attacks include equipment damages in an attempt to access the cash inside. Thieves can go as far as trying to remove or steal the entire machine from a location or even using explosives to breach the chassis, or front, of the machine.

Equipment attacks typically happen after hours when no one is around and pose little threat to customers. However, physical attacks can threaten customer safety in other ways. For example, customers can be robbed after making a withdrawal, or they can be forced to make withdrawals or give up financial information.

Physical attacks can also threaten customers through ATM tampering. Pinhole cameras, fake fronts, skimmers/shimmers, Lebanese loops, and counterfeit PIN pads are all ways thieves can gain access to customer bank cards and PINs and therefore access their accounts and funds.

Logical Attacks

Logical attacks, on the other hand, refer to software hacking. Some attackers attempt to infect ATMs with malware or hack into the ATM’s operating system to gain control over the machine and steal information or cash. This threatens customer data as well as the cash inside the ATM. Some hackers are content with collecting account numbers and PINs while others can cause the ATM to malfunction resulting in the emptying of the vault through seemingly legitimate transactions.

But don’t worry. Independent ATM breaches aren’t that common, especially if you take the right ATM safety precautions. First of all, the more fortified a machine is, the less likely someone is to try to breach it. The more time and effort a breach requires, the more risk that’s involved. Furthermore, experienced thieves know that independent ATM machines don’t hold enough cash to make the effort worth the risk.

5 Ways to Improve ATM Safety

Here are some ways you can improve ATM safety for both your business and your customers:

Utilize Surveillance

First and foremost is to have eyes on the machine at all times. Whether you place your machine in direct eyesight from the register or install security cameras or both, witnesses are sure to deter thieves. Your location may already have security cameras on the premises, or you can install your own fairly cheaply from retailers like Costco or Amazon (we recommend a two-camera system). If you have an outdoor machine, it might be in view of the cameras of neighboring businesses. 

Whatever the situation, it doesn’t hurt to put up a sign that alerts passersby that the machine is under video surveillance. This not only helps deter thieves, but it also makes customers more comfortable using your machine knowing that they are less likely to be approached. And if anything happens, it can be reassuring to know that there will be video evidence.

Some machines come equipped with a camera system as well. A standard feature of Genmega machines, for example, is the GenCam camera system. This allows customers (and criminals) to see themselves on screen. For criminals, this is a huge deterrent. They definitely don’t want their face captured and can see right away that it will be. For customers, they can better monitor their surroundings and protect themselves from “shoulder surfers”, attackers looking over their shoulder to observe their PIN as it’s entered.

Light ATM Area

Another simple way to improve ATM safety, deter crime, and increase customer comfortability is to make sure the ATM area is well-lit. The more attention your machine receives, the better. You don’t want users or thieves to feel obscured from the public eye. This can deter customers and embolden criminals.

You want the machine to be secured and barricaded, but not hidden. There is a fine line between securing and obscuring your machine. 

Secure Machine

To prevent some physical attacks, it’s important to make sure that your machine is secured. The harder it is to get to or move, the longer an attack will take, and the more risk that’s involved for thieves. Thieves looking for easy targets will likely move on if they see that your machine is properly secured.

This is why it is of the utmost importance that you bolt your machine to the ground. While some location owners might have some initial reservations about this, it only takes a couple of minutes to explain how important it is. Most machines don’t weigh too much more than a full-grown man, so if it isn’t bolted to the floor, it really won’t take much to jostle or remove the machine completely. 

Make sure that the machine is bolted to level ground so that no crowbars or other tools can be wedged between the machine and the floor. And after installing the machine, shove it on all sides to ensure that it doesn’t budge. Place the machine away from doors and windows if possible to prevent easy access to it after business hours.

You can further improve ATM safety by barricading the sides with other furniture that create even more obstacles to accessing the equipment. This is especially important in protecting your machine from logical attacks. You don’t want hackers to be able to access the mainboard and other internal electronics to manipulate the software or hardware. 

Inspect Machine

You want to regularly inspect your machine to identify any signs of tampering. When you vault and/or when cleaning your machine, run your hand over all surfaces feeling for any loose or bulky areas or anything that doesn’t feel normal. Fake fronts, Lebanese loops, and counterfeit PIN pads might not be recognizable to the untrained eye, but if you check your machine regularly, these modifications will become obvious. You might have to look a little harder to spot a pinhole camera, but if you know what you are looking for, it should only take a second each time you visit the machine.

Keep an Irregular Vaulting Schedule

Keeping an irregular vaulting schedule can improve your safety and the safety of your vault cash. You don’t want someone to be able to predict when you and your machine will be vulnerable. Try to vault outside of business hours to minimize the amount of foot traffic around you when vaulting. And invest in an eLock if your machine doesn’t already have one to minimize the time you spend at the machine when cash is vulnerable. 

Monitor Activity

Finally, be diligent with monitoring your ATM’s activity. Remote online monitoring makes this quick and easy. It’s something you can do from an app on your phone. Knowing what “normal” ATM activity looks like allows you to quickly recognize when something isn’t right. 

For example, if you notice an unusual increase in withdrawals or unusually high withdrawal amounts, this could be a sign that someone has hacked into the machine and caused it to malfunction. The sooner you identify the breach, the sooner you can address it and prevent further loss. 

Remote online monitoring can also alert you to any major shifts or blows to the ATM equipment. Getting this alert could be a sign of an attempted breach or removal of the machine. But you’ve got to know your machine(s) well to be able to identify any anomalies. However, you need to know this anyway to properly vault the machine, so just don’t take unusual activity lightly. If something seems off, check on it.

Conclusion

We didn’t write this article to make you nervous. We wrote it to help you think of threats you might not have considered before. Knowing possible vulnerabilities allows you to take the appropriate precautions and prevent disasters.

To identify possible weaknesses in your ATM security, put yourself in the shoes of criminals. Are there any areas that aren’t properly secured? Are there any “invitations” to breaching the machine? Then, put yourself in the shoes of your customers. Do you feel safe using the machine? Are there any witnesses? Is your financial information secure?

All it really takes to improve ATM safety is a little foresight and preparation. If you take your ATM safety seriously, you can consider yourself a challenging target and therefore less likely to experience theft or tampering.

7 ATM Installation Tips

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ATM installation can be an overwhelming process for some independent ATM deployers (IADs). However, it should be the most exciting part of starting an ATM business! ATM installation means you’re just steps away from entering into business and making passive income. 

Although overwhelming, the process is quite simple, especially when you know ahead of time what to expect. Here, we provide 7 ATM installation tips so that you can rest assured knowing that you are checking all of the boxes. And don’t forget, you always have access to professional help should and when you need it.

1. Choose the Right Spot

The most important ATM installation task is choosing the right spot. To do so, there are many factors to consider. 

Convenient Yet Secure

You want to choose a spot that is easy for customers to get to but difficult for criminals to get to. So, this means a clear path in a high-traffic area away from doors and windows. Customers should be able to see the machine right away and be able to get to it easily. However, the machine should be protected from break-ins, enough so that it’s more risk than it’s worth to try to get to it for theft or vandalism.

High-traffic areas are great for increasing usage, but they are also simple security measures. The more eyes on the machine at any time the better. The machine should be in eyesight of cashiers or employees or at least within the view of security cameras.

For the same reasons, the ATM area should be well-lit. This helps customers see the machine and feel safe and comfortable using it which increases usage. But it also deters criminals.

Close to a Power Source

Your machine will also need to be powered. So you will need to install your ATM machine within a few feet of a power source. It is recommended that you use 110/115v 15a outlets that aren’t dedicated to other major appliances (freezers, refrigerators, etc.). It’s a good idea to use a surge protector, too, and maybe even an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) so that your machine remains operable during any outages.

Connect your machine to a dedicated standard phone line. If you try to connect the ATM to a fax line, a shared line or a PBX phone system you risk transaction issues like delays, non-dispensing, incomplete transactions, etc. Save yourself the headache and just install a separate phone line.

Adherence to ADA Guidelines

ATM placements have to be in compliance with the rules and regulations outlined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This gives people with disabilities equal access to public services.

All ATMs need to be accessible to people with disabilities, so certain accommodations are mandated. ATM manufacturers are aware of ADA guidelines, so new machines should already be equipped with Braille, earphone jacks, and compliant keypads. 

However, it is up to you—the ATM owner—and the location owner to make sure that the area around the machine is clear and wheelchair accessible. This is the responsibility of the property manager or merchant, regardless of the arrangement made with the ATM owner or other ATM provider. 

Include a clause in your site location agreement (SLA) to ensure the location understands that they can’t permanently block access to the ATM with inventory or other barriers. The minimum clear floor or ground space required for accommodating a single, stationary wheelchair and occupant is 30 x 48 inches (10 sq. ft.), so that is the space needed in front of the ATM to comply with the ADA wheelchair access guidelines.

Furthermore, an ATM’s reach, the height of the uppermost function key on the machine, should be no higher than 48” from the ground. This ensures that all customers can easily access all input controls. It’s especially important to keep this in mind when installing wall mount ATM machines.

2. Secure the Machine

Choosing a strategic location for ATM installation is important to maintaining its security. But there are additional measures you can take during installation to make sure the machine is protected, especially if the only space available at your location isn’t ideal.

Without blocking access to the front of the machine, limit physical access to the case. If the machine is against a wall and closed off on either side by other walls or furniture, this limits the areas of the machine vulnerable to tampering. 

This especially helps prevent logical attacks which involve accessing the mainboard and other internal electronics to breach the software or hardware. Blocking the back and sides of the machine makes it difficult for scammers to access points of ingress.

As far as preventing physical attacks, you want to make sure the machine is bolted to the floor. The ground should be level. First, so that you avoid warping, bending, or otherwise damaging the ATM cabinet. Second, so that someone can’t pry the machine up with a crowbar or other tools. Once bolted, try to budge it. The machine should not give, shift, or wobble.

If there are not security cameras at your location already, or at nearby locations if you place your machine outdoors, install your own. Security cameras and alarm systems help monitor the ATM’s surroundings both increasing customer comfortability and deterring crime. You can even advertise that your machine is under surveillance.

3. Opt for a Wireless Device

The machine has to be connected to a communications device such as an internet connection or a wireless communication device. We recommend investing in your own wireless device so that you aren’t at the mercy of the location’s internet service provider (ISP). 

If communication is interrupted, you’re out of business. Having your own communications device allows you to troubleshoot quicker and ensure that you always have a reliable connection. The alternative is waiting for the location owner to handle any reboots or dealing with their ISP which can be time-consuming and frustrating. It’s best to have this ready at the time of your ATM installation, just in case, but it can always be added later.

4. Load Enough Cash

You can’t start operating your ATM business without vault cash. Load your machine with about $2,000-$3,000 in cash at first. Then monitor the activity via remote online monitoring system to see if you need more or less to facilitate withdrawals in between vaulting. If you use your own money to vault the machine, you can use less than $2,000 if that’s all you have. This just means you might have to load cash more often. 

The most important part of loading cash is ensuring that your machine doesn’t run out. Cash vending is your business; so you’ve got to make sure your machine is equipped to provide this service. Try to load extra at first as a safeguard until you get a good idea of how much traffic your machine sees in a week.

5. Advertise

Once ATM installation is complete and you’re up and running, you will want to make sure that customers and passersby know. Add signage advertising ATM service. Work with the merchant or location owner to run promotions or offer coupons with ATM transactions. These are great ways to jumpstart your ATM business and start earning revenue.

6. Seek Professional Help and Training

It is more than possible for you to handle installation on your own. However, it might be a good idea to seek professional assistance for your first machine. This will help save you time and prevent avoidable mistakes. Then, once you’ve experienced the installation process once, you can do it easily and for free for all machines you install afterward.

Work with your ATM provider to see what kind of installation support they offer. They might have manuals or guides they can provide you with, or they might have a number of technicians already working for them and their clients. See if they offer phone support and when. If you want to handle the ATM installation yourself, you might want to make sure you do so during business hours in case you need to call with questions.

You can always hire a local third-party professional ATM technician to help you with the ATM installation. Costs will vary based on the distance a technician is from your location, but plan to budget around $350 for this service. It’s well-worth it to ensure that the ATM installation goes smoothly, and you can get training simultaneously.

Watch and learn. Ask questions. Take notes. A lot of technicians will also let you film part or all of the process. Then you can just refer back to it later.

7. Test the ATM Installation

Finally, test your machine once it’s installed. You want to identify any mistakes, error codes, or other problems before a customer does. All it takes is making a test transaction on your machine. 

You should actually do this every time you vault your machine. Dispensing the wrong bills can be a very costly mistake. Your machine might give a customer too much, and you won’t notice unless an honest person alerts someone to the issue. Or, you could short a customer and have to deal with complaints, chargebacks, and journal requests. This can have long-term consequences if customers lose trust in your machine and your service.

It takes seconds to make a test transaction, and you can often get ATM fee reimbursement from your bank. 

Ready for ATM Installation?

Hopefully this list of ATM installation tips helps you feel more comfortable with the process. If you follow these guidelines, you shouldn’t have any problems. Remember that professional help is always available. 

If you purchase an ATM from ATMDepot.com, we can arrange for the ATM to be professionally installed for you by a certified ATM technician. We recommend a professional installation for your first machine. We can also arrange training during the installation for no additional charge if you’d like to learn how to operate your ATM.

Questions or inquiries? Contact us today!

ATM Security Camera: Do You Need One?

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An ATM security camera is a great way to protect your ATM, your customers, and your business. Not only does an ATM security camera deter crime, it also helps to catch criminals in the act.

There are many things you can do to improve the security of your ATM machine. But an ATM camera is one of the easiest things you can do. Unfortunately, it isn’t the cheapest thing you can do. 

Essentially, the choice to invest in an ATM security camera is up to you, the owner. Keep reading so that you can make an informed decision!

Benefits of an ATM Security Camera

Yes, cameras are popular security measures. But why? There are many ways video surveillance protects your ATM, your customers, and your business. 

Deter Crime

Obviously, the more security precautions you take, the better. Criminals do not want to spend more than a couple of minutes at an ATM machine, so after an obstacle or two, they are likely to just move on. And an ATM security camera is an obstacle.

To combat an ATM security camera, criminals would have to plan ahead and disguise or cloak themselves to avoid being identified. Or, they would have to remove or damage the camera. However, they would have to find the camera first, and that might take time. Even still, the camera could capture them in the act and, although destroyed, footage could be saved digitally.

This is not a hassle or risk most criminals want to face. Those “Smile, you’re on camera” surveillance signs you’ve probably seen in locations you frequent work. Don’t let someone break into your ATM machine because they didn’t know there would be visual proof. Let them know that the machine is under surveillance and prevent the crime and any associated damage altogether.

Catch Criminals

While surveillance camera systems reduce crime by 50% or more, crimes still happen. In these cases where the crime isn’t deterred, an ATM security camera can help catch the criminal. The camera can provide real-time response to give you a head start on alerting the authorities, and then you can provide them with identification from face detection and recognition from photo and video.

Prove Theft

An ATM security camera also provides access to photo and video of transactions. If you report theft to your insurance company, they might require proof. Providing them with that data helps you recover any losses. 

You might also have a customer who gets robbed at the ATM machine. He or she might call you to see if there is anything you can do. If you have the video footage, you could provide your customer with superior customer service. You might be able to help detect certain attacks as well and alert the authorities sooner than a bystander could.

And, unfortunately, you might need photo and video footage of transactions if you have a customer who files a false complaint. Having an ATM security camera can help you settle disputes and protect yourself against false claims.

Reassure Customers

Sure, an ATM security camera helps keep your ATM safe from damage and robbery, but it also protects your customers. Customers are more likely to use a machine that is under video surveillance than one that isn’t because they feel safer using it. 

This is another reason why it’s a good idea to advertise that your ATM machine is under surveillance. It could set you apart from competitors and bring in more business!

Where to Get an ATM Security Camera

You have a few options for security equipment. 

First, you can purchase machines that already have a camera built in. The Hyosung Force, for example, can be upgraded to include the Monivision Camera. The Monivision Camera takes a snapshot of customers as they enter their PINs and again as the cash dispenses. 

The Monivision Camera allows customers to see themselves on screen. This not only provides them with safety and comfort being able to see who is behind them, but criminals can also see themselves and know right away to move on!

Similarly, Genmega also offers a camera system. The GenCam camera system is actually included on all Genmega machines as a standard feature for no additional cost!

Now, you might already have ATM equipment that didn’t come with a camera system. You could upgrade your screen, or you could purchase your own third-party camera system from retailers like Costco or Amazon (we recommend a two-camera system). This means you might have to install it yourself. But how?

Where to Install an ATM Security Camera

An ATM security camera is really only as good as its placement. It isn’t going to work effectively if it isn’t aimed in the right direction. Therefore, installation is fairly straightforward. 

First, you will want the camera to have a clear view of a user’s hands and face. This will help you monitor transactions and settle disputes. You also want to try to capture as much of the surrounding area as possible. This can help deter or capture anyone lurking in the background. 

Finally, make sure the area is well-lit to improve the video quality. There is no sense in recording activity if the photo or video is dim, blurred, or obscure. This defeats the purpose of using surveillance for identification.

Do You Need an ATM Security Camera?

Camera systems and video surveillance are extra services and therefore come at an additional cost. If you are just starting out, this might be a feature you add on after you start generating revenue. However, it can also be a beneficial investment to protect your business and your customers. How much is your peace of mind worth?

You might even be fortunate enough to place your ATM machine in a location that already has video surveillance in place. Or, if you have an outdoor ATM machine, it might be in view of cameras of nearby locations. 

Of course, you will want to contact these locations to make sure the cameras are functional. They can be a crime deterrence regardless, but don’t count on them for evidence if they go out of service. You might feel better just having control of your own ATM security camera system so that you can make sure they are always functioning and get real-time data.

Each ATM business is different and each deployer has different needs and budgets. So consider the information in this article and make the decision that’s right for you!

Do ATMs Have GPS?

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Do ATMs have GPS? Should yours?

Thieves go where the money is. Unfortunately, that puts a target on your ATM machines. However, there are many ways to mitigate your vulnerability and loss. As criminals get more creative and more bold, more precautions are taken and security measures implemented. So which are right for you?

No ATM business looks the same. Some independent ATM deployers (IADs) operate one machine, others have entire fleets. Some machines are busier and more profitable than others. And machines are in a variety of locations with a variety of potential threats.

So when deciding which security measures are right for you, there are a number of factors to consider. Location, placement, ATM type, and budget are a few. 

If you want to know do ATMs have GPS, the answer is yes. Do all ATMs? No. GPS tracking is an added feature that ATM operators can spring for just like any other security feature or add-on. 

In this article, we’ll explain what GPS tracking looks like and list some other security options you might want to consider. 

How Does GPS Tracking Work?

GPS tracking works just like you’d expect. The tracking device is mounted to the machine and location data allows the machine to be recovered in the event of a theft. However, there are a few other ways this can work:

In addition to informing ATM owners and law enforcement of a machine’s location, some GPS systems will also trigger a silent alarm if the machine is jostled or tilted. They can also send emails and other real-time notifications. This allows ATM owners to act quicker, retrieve their property sooner, and prevent further damage or theft.

Geofencing is another security feature that creates an electrical “fence” around a specified perimeter. Then, the owner is notified if an ATM machine breaches this electrical barrier without authorization.

Cassette trackers are also an option. Thieves might be able to break into an ATM machine and access the cash cassettes without removing the machine itself. Then, an ATM tracker would be useless, but the cassette tracker can help locate the criminals who take off with them.

Do I Need a GPS Tracker?

GPS tracking helps deter crime, recuperate property and cash, and apprehend offenders. The longer property goes unrecovered, the less likely it is to be discovered. That’s why it’s important to act fast. Knowing when a crime is taking place gives you a head start. 

Thieves who take off with entire ATM machines could be tracked and arrested before they are even able to break into the vault. This quick action could prevent you from losing hundreds of dollars of cash.

The benefits of GPS tracking are clear. But there are many other factors you should consider.

Cost

GPS tracking systems can be expensive. In many cases, ATM owners not only purchase the GPS tracking gadgets, but the companies that sell them also provide human support in the event of a theft, and that service costs money as well. 

For this reason, it’s more common for bank ATMs to have GPS trackers. They have more money to spend on security systems, and they can justify the cost a little easier than an IAD. 

Bank ATMs are bigger targets because the higher cash levels equal a bigger reward for thieves, and they are always stocked. Independently owned ATM machines have lower cash stores and are emptied at closing (or at least should be) to prevent after hours ATM robbery.

Location

If you are still wondering if you should invest in GPS tracking, consider the location of your ATMs. Are they in high-crime, large, metropolitan areas? These are the areas where ATM crimes are the highest. If your ATMs aren’t in a large city, you might not need such advanced security.

Placement

Are your ATM machines indoors or outdoors? Outdoor and other 24/7 ATM machines have a greater risk of theft because they are vulnerable during high-risk hours—between midnight and 4am. Indoor ATM machines also have other safeguards and obstacles like doors, walls, furniture, and alarms. 

Consider what security measures are already in place where your machine is located and in surrounding areas. GPS tracking only helps you during or after a crime. So your first line of defense is precautions to deter criminals and prevent crime.

Other Security Measures

There are many security measures you can take to protect your ATM machine and prevent the need for GPS tracking. You want to make sure you have eyes on your machine as often as possible. Make good decisions about who has access to the machine. And make it difficult for criminals to access; you don’t want your machine to be an easy target….

Strategic Placement

First of all, place your machine strategically. Try to place it away from doors and windows that could be points of ingress after hours. If that’s not possible, make sure it’s in view of security cameras at your location or of cameras nearby. 

Barriers and Obstacles

Create physical barriers and obstacles for criminals (while leaving a clear path for customers). Keep the front free for customers, but try to protect the sides with walls or other furniture. This will make the machine more difficult to get to, especially for hackers who might try to launch a logical attack via the electronics. We also recommend bolting your machine into the floor. 

Updated Software

Keeping your software updated also helps protect you from logical attacks. Outdated software is easier to hack and manipulate. If a criminal has to be with your machine for more than a couple of minutes, he or she will likely just move on.

Strategic Vaulting Procedures

Be strategic with your vaulting procedures, too. Keep an irregular schedule that makes robberies hard to predict and plan. Limit the number of people who have access to the machine (theft can come from within your business as well). And empty the vault after hours, like a cash register, and keep the door open to deter money-grabbers.

Pre Existing Security

The building where your machine is located might already have a number of security features in place, too. If the building itself is protected, your machine is less vulnerable. Consider security cameras, alarm systems, barred windows, etc.

Remote Online Monitoring

If you work with an ATM company like ATM Depot, you have access to remote online ATM monitoring. This allows you to have “eyes” on your machine at all times. Once you are familiar with what a regular day looks like for your ATM machine, you will be able to spot suspicious activity (too many withdrawals in proximity, too large of withdrawals).

You might even have a camera on your machine so that you can literally monitor your ATM activity remotely. Advertise that the machine is under surveillance (Smile! You’re on camera!) to deter criminals as well. 

ATM Insurance

And of course, for peace of mind, consider investing in ATM insurance. That way, in the worst case scenario, you are covered. 

Why Do ATMs Have GPS?

Some ATM machines now have GPS trackers installed. This allows the owner to alert authorities immediately in the event of a theft. And subsequently, it allows the authorities to recover the property and make an arrest. 

Therefore, ATM machines that have a higher chance of being stolen or broken into benefit from being able to locate the property and cash. In some cases, property may be recovered even before the criminals break into the vault. 

GPS tracking systems can protect your ATM machines. But so can bolts, cameras, alarms, and physical obstacles. Choose the security features that make sense for your business and fit your budget. Coordinate with the location owner to create strategies that protect the entire store. And most importantly, don’t be an easy target!

ATM Robbery: How Common Is It?

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Although ATM robbery has drastically increased in recent years, it’s still relatively rare when you consider the large number of ATM machines in operation. However, there are many precautions you can take to protect yourself and your business from theft, vandalism, and loss.

How Common is ATM Robbery?

ATM robbery used to be a lot less common. However, it’s no surprise that in light of Covid-19 and other instances of civil and economic unrest, crime in general has increased. More people are becoming more desperate and criminals are becoming more bold. 

While the number of ATM thefts reported by the FBI between 2016 and 2019 were under 50, they climbed to 254 in 2021. However, the skyrocketing ATM thefts are linked to major metropolitan areas, and you have to consider that bank ATMs are included in these numbers. 

Bank ATMs can hold as little as $40,000 and as much as $250,000. So they are more worth the effort and the risk involved. On the other hand, bank ATMs are also well-monitored. This could push criminals to try their luck at independent ATM machines that might have less security. 

Therefore, it’s important that you take necessary steps to prevent ATM robbery and other ATM crimes that could arise. Fortunately, there are actions you can take that deter criminals altogether. Keep in mind, though, that certain locations and situations require different security measures. So think about your specific location and needs while making security decisions.

ATM Crimes

ATM crimes can present themselves in a number of ways. First of all, there is a slight distinction between ATM robbery and ATM theft. ATM robbery implies that cash is stolen while ATM theft suggests removal of the entire machine.

ATM Theft 

Some pretty drastic tactics can be involved in ATM theft. You might have heard of criminals using 

  • crowbars to pry off ATM covers (also known as “smash and grabs” and also known to look a lot less neat and organized than a simple crowbar pry….).
  • hook, chain, and high-powered trucks to yank ATM machines out of walls.
  • explosives to breach or dislodge ATM machines.

The bright side in all of this is that these situations typically don’t directly threaten human victims. Theft is between the criminal and the machine. Robberies, however, get a little more personal.

ATM Robberies

ATM robbery is scary because it could happen to anyone. You or your vaulter could be robbed while loading or unloading the machine. Or your customers could be robbed while making withdrawals. The employees of the business where your ATM is located could be pressured to access the ATM machine. 

While there are a number of steps you can take to protect yourself and your employees or partners from ATM robbery, there are some tips for ATM customers as well.

For example, most ATM robberies occur at night (between the hours of 12am and 4am). Therefore, try to make your withdrawals from a well-lit location in plain view of the public if you need to make a withdrawal in the dark. Most ATM robberies also involve one offender and one victim. So, there is safety in numbers, even at the ATM. 

Additionally, don’t count or carry your withdrawal out in the open. Quickly stash it and retrieve it in a secure location. Finally, don’t risk your life for a few hundred dollars. You might be strapped, but trust us, your life is worth more, so don’t try to fight or apprehend a robber to get your cash back!

Vandalism and Fraud

In addition to stealing ATM machines and vaulted or withdrawn cash, criminals can also launch electronic attacks. This is why it’s important to regularly check your machine for vandalism. 

While “shoulder surfers” can glean a customers’ PIN numbers by standing a little too close to them, hackers typically mess with the machine itself to access this sensitive information. For example, pinhole cameras, fake fronts, skimmers and shimmers, counterfeit PIN pads, and Lebanese Loops can be installed on ATM machines and be almost undetectable to the untrained (or unaware) eye.

Fortunately, if you know what to look for, you can see a pinhole camera, feel a fake front, and see signs of skimmers. On the other hand, you might not notice a logical attack.

A logical attack involves access to the mainboard or other electronics of an ATM machine to gain control or cause it to malfunction. This could allow a criminal to gain access to ATM cash via seemingly legitimate withdrawal processes.

Keep reading to find out what you can do to combat both physical and local attacks.

How To Prevent ATM Crime

To minimize the risk of crime involving your ATM machine, you’ll want to predict vulnerabilities and set up barriers. Make things difficult for criminals. Successful attacks can take only three minutes. Attackers aren’t going to want to spend a lot of time at your machine, so if they run into obstacles, they are more likely to move on or target a more vulnerable location.

Keep Eyes on Your Machine as Much as Possible

The first thing you want to do is be strategic with your placement. This is sometimes easier to do with indoor locations as you have four walls to work within. If your machine is outdoors, your options might be limited. However, make sure the area is well-lit and in plain view of witnesses such as cameras, high-traffic streets, or locations that are open late or 24 hours.

Don’t Keep the Machine Loaded After Hours

Second, If you’re a retailer that loads/vaults your own ATM, treat your ATM machine like a cash register if you can. Unload the ATM as part of your closing process. If you place your machine where it can be seen from a door or window after hours, leave the ATM door open after vaulting. There’s no need to break into a machine that’s visibly empty.

If you are an IAD and vault cash for your locations, watch your average withdrawal and manage your cash. Try to load only what’s needed between loading days. Ensure the location has a security system and camera pointed at the ATM (also use Genmega ATMs with a GenCam if you’re concerned at all). Just like car thieves, go for the unlock cars first. When they case the retailer, they will notice an alarm and cameras. Have decals on the ATM or a welcome screen that rotates to say, “Smile, you’re on camera” and/or “Alarm protects this ATM.” And, of course, make sure the ATM is properly bolted to the floor with the best anchors for the subfloor. Thieves casing the retailer look for other opportunities and may even try to push the ATM to check how well it’s installed.

Create Obstacles

Third, make your machine difficult to get to or access after hours. Keep the front and path leading to your machine clear for customers, of course, and when you bolt your machine to the ground, arrange shelves or other furniture alongside the machine or bolt it down in a corner to restrict access to the back and one side. 

Minimizing access points helps prevent physical as well as logical attacks. Consider the top of your machine as a potential ingress point as well. Adding an alarm inside the ATM with a door sensor on the plastic exterior lock door will cause the alarm to trigger as soon as someone tries to break that; before they even attempt anything else, that’s usually the first entry point.

Remember, the goal is to create barriers. Criminals won’t spend long trying to overcome obstacles. 

Regularly Update Software

Outdated software makes logical attacks easier for hackers. Updates typically include modern safeguards. Attackers will be able to identify outdated software, so make sure you keep it up-to-date.

Work with People You Trust

Unfortunately, theft can happen internally, too. Make sure you trust the location owner, employees, and third parties. Limit who has access to your machine; the less, the better.

Check Your Machine Frequently

Unattended, low-traffic ATM machines are more likely to be targeted. Therefore, non-bank ATMs typically have a greater risk of being tampered with. Each time you visit your machine, run your hand over the body. Look for loose, bulky, or foreign parts. Anything unusual could indicate that your machine has been tampered with, putting your customers at risk of fraud.

Use GPS Trackers

GPS tracking is more likely to help you after the event of an attack rather than preventing one. These devices won’t be visible, so if a robber is successful, you or the police will be more likely to apprehend the culprit and recover your assets.

Invest in ATM Insurance

The only thing insurance will prevent is worry. Investing in ATM insurance can give you peace of mind knowing that you are protected financially in a worst case scenario. Having insurance will hopefully encourage you to let your assets go if you are victimized and have to fight the urge to struggle with an attacker.

Should Vaulters Be Armed?

We do not recommend that you arm yourself when loading or unloading your machine. One of the biggest problems with this is that if you do end up using your weapon, there will be more consequences and complications. There are other, safer precautions you can take to protect yourself. 

First of all, don’t vault your machine at night. This is when criminals are the most active and when there will be fewer witnesses and natural protection. Furthermore, don’t stick to a regular, predictable vaulting schedule. You don’t want to allow someone to plan a robbery.

Make sure there is surveillance. You can install your own cameras or just be sure you place your machine in line with the cameras of your location or surrounding locations. To help deter criminals, consider putting up a sign that advertises that the machine is under video surveillance.

Also, be aware of who is around when you vault. If your machine is indoors, ensure a manager or employee is around while you vault rather than disappearing to the back. You can also vault after hours to minimize the level of foot traffic while you are vulnerable. If you vault after hours, it’s best to do so away from windows or points of ingress where passersby can see your activity.

If you still feel unsure and live in a major metropolitan area, you might see if you can arrange for an armed off-duty officer to accompany you to your drops. Again, we don’t recommend that you take the law into your own hands. Smart decisions are your first line of defense.

Be Proactive Against ATM Robbery

This information about ATM robbery isn’t meant to scare you. On the contrary, it’s meant to empower you. The more you know, the more prepared you will be and the more confident you will feel. 

Although ATM crime has risen in the past couple of years, crime, in general, has risen, so it isn’t unexpected. The number of reported incidents is still minor compared to the number of ATMs in operation, and bank ATMs are frequently targeted because larger vaults equal bigger payouts. 

In our many years of experience, we have never personally heard of an independent ATM deployer getting held up or mugged. And, being in the ATM business, that’s saying something!

Still have questions? Contact us today!