Criminals Target German ATMs

Automated teller machines (ATMs) in Germany are being increasingly manipulated by criminals according to the German Savings Bank Association, DSGV. The association estimates damages worth €3.5 million ($4.30 million) for 2004. A DSGV spokesman told daily Berliner Zeitung that compared to last year when damages amounted to €1.9 million, the figure had almost doubled. The association said that Berlin was particularly hard hit. "Every week on an average one attack takes place on an ATM," the spokesman said. Usually, perpetrators tried to pry out secret customer data from the ATMs with the help of special tools in order to empty bank accounts, the spokesman added.