ATM Fraud Statistics 2025: Essential Statistics and How to Stay Safe
Barry Elad
Updated · Mar 06, 2025
Imagine standing at an ATM, withdrawing your hard-earned money, only to later find your account drained by an unknown transaction. This scenario, though alarming, is becoming increasingly common as ATM fraud evolves into more sophisticated schemes. In recent years, financial criminals have harnessed technology to exploit vulnerabilities, causing significant losses for individuals and financial institutions alike. As we enter 2025, understanding these risks and the statistics behind them is crucial for both awareness and prevention.
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- Continued rise in fraud incidents reported that U.S. shoppers lost $8.7 billion to fraud in the first three quarters of 2024 alone, a 14.5% increase from the same period in 2023.
- Over 315,000 debit cards were compromised due to skimming. Nearly 3,000 financial institutions were affected by these compromises.
- 76.1% of individuals sentenced for credit card and other financial instrument fraud in the United States were male.
- Bitcoin ATM scams resulted in over $65 million in losses during the first half of 2024, with a median loss of $10,000 per victim.
- Digital AiTM fraud, though relatively rare at 0.06% in 2024, is gaining traction due to advances in phishing techniques and AI-driven attacks.
- Older adults, especially those over 60, were more than three times as likely to fall victim to Bitcoin ATM scams compared to younger individuals.
- Scam-related fraud increased by 56% in 2024, surpassing traditional digital payment crimes.
Global Trends in ATM Fraud
- Europe experienced a 30% rise in ATM fraud, driven largely by skimming and card cloning activities.
- Asia-Pacific countries reported over $500 million in losses, with fraudsters targeting outdated ATM systems.
- In Africa, fraud incidents doubled, primarily due to the lack of encrypted ATM networks.
- The adoption of EMV chip technology reduced fraud by 28% in developed countries but remains underutilized in some regions.
- Cross-border ATM fraud increased by 12%, underscoring the need for international collaboration.
- Cyber-based ATM attacks surged by 20%, with malware posing a significant threat to ATM infrastructure.
- The global ATM fraud prevention market is projected to reach $5.2 billion by 2026, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.4%.
Common Types of ATM Fraud
- Card skimming remains the most common type of ATM fraud, accounting for nearly 60% of reported cases worldwide in 2023.
- Shimming devices—a newer technology—have seen a 35% increase in usage, especially in developed countries.
- Cash trapping incidents increased by 15%, targeting older ATMs lacking modern anti-fraud mechanisms.
- Card swapping frauds rose by 20%, particularly in areas with high foot traffic, such as train stations and malls.
- ATM phishing attacks, involving fraudulent emails or text messages, grew by 25% globally, tricking users into revealing sensitive information.
- Account takeover frauds surged by 18%, often leveraging weak security on user accounts.
- Fraudsters exploited social engineering tactics to manipulate ATM users, accounting for 22% of reported frauds.
ATM Skimming Devices
- Skimming devices were responsible for $1.1 billion in global losses in 2023, a staggering figure that continues to grow.
- Fraudsters now use advanced, 3D-printed skimmers, making detection more challenging for ATM operators.
- Wireless skimming tools have increased by 40%, enabling criminals to access data remotely.
- Overlay skimmers, disguised as legitimate ATM parts, accounted for 65% of skimming-related fraud.
- European countries reported a 25% drop in skimming incidents due to stricter regulations and technology upgrades.
- Hidden cameras used alongside skimming devices to capture PIN entries remain a critical issue in older ATM networks.
- The introduction of anti-skimming jammers on ATMs has reduced skimming attempts by 30% in North America.
| Metric | Value or Change |
| Global losses due to skimming (2023) | $1.1 billion |
| Wireless skimming tools | 40% increase |
| Overlay skimmers’ share of skimming fraud | 65% |
| Decline in European skimming incidents | 25% decrease |
| Anti-skimming jammers in North America | 30% reduction in attempts |
POS Skimming Devices
- POS skimming saw a 12% rise in 2023, with fraudsters targeting retail outlets and gas stations.
- Over $600 million was lost globally due to POS skimming, reflecting a growing trend in card-present fraud.
- Fraudsters are leveraging Bluetooth-enabled skimming devices, which have increased by 25% year-over-year.
- Self-checkout terminals are a rising target, with 18% of reported POS skimming occurring at these locations.
- EMV chip card adoption in POS terminals has helped reduce fraud in some regions, but non-compliance remains a vulnerability.
- Upgraded POS systems with tokenization technology are projected to reduce fraud by 20% in 2024.
- Consumer education on POS fraud prevention remains low, with 45% of users unaware of skimming risks at point-of-sale terminals.
Card Skimming Fraud and Increasing Compromise
- Card skimming accounted for 45% of ATM fraud globally in 2023, making it a persistent concern for financial institutions.
- Over $900 million in losses were attributed to card skimming incidents in North America alone last year.
- Europe reported a decline of 15% in card skimming fraud, thanks to the widespread adoption of anti-skimming technologies.
- In contrast, developing countries experienced a 28% rise in skimming fraud due to outdated ATM systems.
- Contactless card technology has reduced skimming vulnerabilities by 20%, especially in urban regions.
- Cloned card fraud increased by 18%, indicating a shift towards high-tech skimming methods.
- Skimming devices now use ultra-slim profiles, making them harder to detect for both users and ATM operators.
Impact of ATM Fraud on Financial Institutions
- Global banks incurred an estimated $2.4 billion in direct losses due to ATM fraud in 2023.
- Operational costs for fraud management rose by 22%, impacting smaller banks and credit unions disproportionately.
- ATM network upgrades cost institutions over $1.5 billion globally, a necessary step to combat emerging fraud tactics.
- Reputation damage from ATM fraud incidents led to a 10% customer churn rate among affected institutions.
- Financial institutions reported a 35% increase in legal disputes related to fraud reimbursement claims.
- Insurance premiums for ATM fraud protection increased by 18%, reflecting the growing risk landscape.
- Collaborative efforts among banks and regulators helped reduce fraud cases by 12% in regions with unified prevention frameworks.
| Impact Metric | Value/Change |
| Global direct losses due to ATM fraud (2023) | $2.4 billion |
| Increase in fraud management costs | 22% |
| ATM network upgrade costs | $1.5 billion |
| Customer churn rate | 10% |
| Legal disputes increase | 35% |
| Insurance premium increase | 18% |
Consumer Awareness and Protection Measures
- Despite the risks, 40% of consumers are unaware of basic ATM security tips, such as covering the keypad when entering a PIN.
- Only 55% of US cardholders use mobile banking alerts to monitor suspicious transactions in real-time.
- Fraud awareness campaigns reduced incidents by 15% in areas where they were actively promoted in 2023.
- Consumers who opt for contactless payment methods experienced 50% fewer fraud incidents compared to traditional methods.
- 90% of fraud victims reported delays in reimbursement, highlighting a gap in financial institution support.
- Freezing compromised accounts within minutes prevented losses for over 3 million consumers globally in 2023.
- Consumer education programs about fraud prevention are expected to grow by 25% in 2024, emphasizing proactive security measures.
| Metric | Value/Change |
| Consumers unaware of basic security tips | 40% |
| Use of mobile banking alerts | 55% |
| Reduction in fraud due to awareness campaigns | 15% |
| Fraud reduction with contactless payments | 50% |
| Delays in reimbursement reported | 90% of victims |
| Accounts saved by freezing | 3 million consumers |
The Role of Automation in Fraud Prevention
- Automated fraud detection systems identified 75% of suspicious transactions in real-time during 2023.
- Machine learning algorithms reduced false positives in fraud detection by 20%, saving banks millions in operational costs.
- Biometric authentication adoption increased by 30%, significantly reducing fraud at modern ATMs.
- AI-driven anomaly detection systems flagged $800 million in potential fraud transactions, preventing large-scale losses.
- Integrated blockchain technologies are being piloted to enhance transactional security, with promising early results.
- Automation tools have enabled 24/7 fraud monitoring, reducing downtime for investigating potential threats.
- Future projections suggest a 40% increase in automation-driven fraud prevention by 2026 as technology continues to advance.
| Automation Metric | Value/Change |
| Suspicious transactions identified | 75% in real time |
| Reduction in false positives | 20% |
| Biometric adoption increase | 30% |
| Fraud flagged by anomaly detection | $800 million |
| Automation-driven fraud prevention projection | 40% increase by 2026 |
Recent Developments
- Rise in Skimming Devices: In Virginia, nearly invisible skimming devices have been discovered at multiple Walmart stores, aiming to steal customer card details during transactions.
- ATM Jackpotting Arrests: Two Venezuelan nationals were arrested in the U.S. for conducting ATM jackpotting attacks, where malware is used to force ATMs to dispense cash without targeting specific bank accounts.
- Increase in Bitcoin ATM Scams: The Federal Trade Commission reported a tenfold increase in consumer losses due to Bitcoin ATM scams, reaching $114 million from 2020 to 2023.
- Significant Financial Losses: Payment card fraud losses worldwide reached $33.83 billion in 2023, with the U.S. accounting for 42.32% of these losses.
- Legislative Actions Against Crypto ATM Fraud: U.S. senators have introduced the Crypto ATM Fraud Prevention Act to combat the rising number of scams associated with cryptocurrency ATMs.
Conclusion
ATM fraud remains a critical concern for consumers and financial institutions alike as technology evolves. The $2.4 billion lost to ATM fraud in 2023 underscores the importance of proactive measures, from robust consumer education to advanced fraud prevention tools. While innovations like contactless ATMs and automated fraud detection are making strides, increased collaboration and global standardization are essential for long-term protection. As 2025 progresses, staying informed and vigilant will be key to mitigating risks and ensuring a secure financial future.
Barry Elad
Barry Elad is a dedicated tech and finance enthusiast, passionate about making technology and fintech concepts accessible to everyone. He specializes in collecting key statistics and breaking down complex information, focusing on the benefits that software and financial tools bring to everyday life. Figuring out how software works and sharing its value with users is his favorite pastime. When he's not analyzing apps or programs, Barry enjoys creating healthy recipes, practicing yoga, meditating, and spending time in nature with his child. His mission is to simplify finance and tech insights to help people make informed decisions.
