ATM attacks don't generally appear in the news, despite their growing threat. As we've written before, these attacks can be both cyber and physical, and the physical attacks can be against both machine and the personnel servicing the machine. Another disturbing crime that may not appear enough in the headlines is the financial exploitation of senior adults. Two upcoming events in our Talk About Payments webinar series will give you the opportunity to learn more about these issues from the experts. The first, on November 3, covers ATM attacks. The second webinar takes place the following week, on November 10, and addresses the exploitation of seniors and community-based approaches to help mitigate vulnerabilities. More details about these webinars, as well as registration links, are below. We hope you will join us for both events.
November 3: ATM Attacks and Defenses
Because many financial institutions have closed or reduced the operating hours of many of their banking offices since the start of the pandemic, customer withdrawals of cash from ATMs have increased significantly. Unfortunately, the criminal element has shifted some resources to attacking ATMs and the personnel servicing them, including those who make currency deliveries. More than half of all ATM attacks in the United States involve thefts of the ATMs themselves, according to ATM Security Association data. The growth in dispenser jackpotting is also troubling. Because the methods of ATM crime can vary from city to city and month to month, it is critical that that ATM operators stay informed about current trends.
A panel of ATM experts join moderator David Tente, executive director of the ATM Industry Association, in discussing trends in cyber and physical attacks against ATM terminals and service personnel along with measures that can mitigate the risks. The panelists are:
- Brenda Born, supervisory special agent, Federal Bureau of Investigation
- Brad Moody, executive vice president of operations, Lowers & Associates
- John Toneatto, vice president of security and investigations, Loomis
The webinar takes place on November 3 from 1 to 2 p.m. (ET). To participate in the free webinar, please register
.
November 10: Financial Exploitation of Aging Adults
Did you know that more than 10,000 US adults turn 65 every day, and that many of them will be victims of financial fraud? Elder financial exploitation is a growing problem, according to the National Council on Aging, which estimates financial losses of at least $36.5 billion dollars a year. With the rapidly aging population, we must identify and protect elderly citizens exposed to financial exploitation risks.
In the November 10 episode of our Talk About Payments webinar series, Drs. Thomas Blomberg and Julie Brancale, criminologists from Florida State University, describe the current research, theory, and policy responses associated with this growing social problem. They also address the patterns and variations of financial exploitation of older adults and discuss why some older adults may be more or less vulnerable than others. The presentation concludes with a discussion of areas in need of additional research and policy attention. Scarlett Heinbuch, a payments risk expert at the Atlanta Fed, moderates the discussion.
The webinar takes place on November 10 from 1 to 2 p.m. (ET). To participate in the free webinar, please register.
We encourage financial institutions, retailers, payments processors, law enforcement officials, academics, and other payments system stakeholders to join us for these informative webinars. You will be able to submit questions during the webinar. Please let your colleagues know about these webinars!
By David Lott, a payments risk expert in the Retail Payments Risk Forum at the Atlanta Fed