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This is based on country crime updates given by representatives of 21 countries in the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA), and 3 non-SEPA countries, at the 27th EAST meeting held at Europol in the Hague on 6th June 2012.
Skimming attacks at ATMs remain an issue for all but two of the countries, with eight countries reporting increases in such incidents, and three countries decreases. Higher quality and more efficient skimming devices are being noticed.
The continued migration of fraud losses away from EMV• Chip liability shift areas continues. From January 2012 to June 2012 such losses were reported in 46 countries and territories outside of the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) and in 11 countries within SEPA. The USA remains the top location for such losses, followed by Peru, Mexico and Brazil. Regional card blocking (card issuers blocking domestic payment cards for usage outside of designated EMV Chip liability shift areas) continues to be successful, with six countries now reporting some form of geo-blocking.
Cash trapping incidents were reported by 13 countries, down from 17 reported in the previous EAST Fraud Update. This decrease is believed to be due to the roll out of related counter-measures. Increasing use of a new cash trap variant has been reported, often used in conjunction with another type of fraud.
Card trapping incidents were reported by two countries. Razor edge spring traps are still being widely used.
Ram raids and ATM burglary were reported by nine countries, and explosive gas attacks by six countries. As a counter-measure the roll out of banknote degradation systems across Europe continues.
The full Update is available to EAST subscribers.
*EMV (also known as ‘chip and PIN’) is an industry standard for Smart Cards and card readers, supported by the European Payments Council and the major payment schemes
ENDS
(Background data on the Fraud Update & EAST follow)
For further information and a PDF copy of the Fraud Update (Media only) please contact the EAST Coordinator, Lachlan Gunn.
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coordinator[.]eas-team.eu 
