Munich (dpa / lby) - The data theft at ATMs in Bavaria has decreased in the current year, contrary to the nationwide trend. From January to the end of November, criminals manipulated ATMs in the country just 17 times in order to spy on bank customers' card data and PIN. In the same period of the previous year, the Euro Card Systems facility in Bavaria counted 55 such “skimming” cases, and there were 59 cases in the year as a whole.
By far the most were counted in Hamburg this year: 102 cases. According to the information, there were 222 cases nationwide, after 116 in the same period last year. Criminals were only able to monetize data spied out in Germany in this way in 102 cases this year. This resulted in gross damage of 99,000 euros - despite the increase in the number of cases nationwide, two thirds less than last year.
The skimming business model has become obsolete for fraudsters thanks to secure EMV chips, explained Euro Kartensysteme. Magnetic strips that are easy to copy can only be used on a large scale in a few countries worldwide. In Germany, the banks usually compensate the victims for the damage - provided the customers have been careful with their bank card and PIN.
