ATM&CARDS Weekly Newsletter
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Volume 9 No 2
Bitcoin’s Role in Eliminating ATM Skimmers ATM skimming is one issue the payment industry and supporting organisation have been trying to combat. Yet as new anti skimming solutions come up, fraudster tries to find a way around it. There could be a solution with Bitcoin. Bitcoin has been designed from the ground up to include the latest security features from digital signing to the latest encryption methods. This along with a transparent public ledger help mitigate and reduce a lot of the frauds in the payment industry.” Erik Anderson of Bloomberg
back to an era of nonexistence. It goes deeper than that though. With the Mycelium Bitcoin phone wallet, scanning a QR code is the simplest way to send funds. Anyone using this app can also enable a six-digit PIN as well, making it a bit of a two-factorauthentication tactic. No matter where a skimmer’s hidden camera may hide, it would surely be a difficult act of angling and timing to be able to catch that PIN on a cell phone screen. Along with this, bitcoins can be sent from anywhere and aren’t tied to point-
recently attended the Bitcoin Education Day conference in Washington, D.C hosted by the Chamber of Digital Commerce. He was quoted by the Chamber speaking to this very notion. The Bitcoin family of technologies is very valuable. These technologies can be used to address many issues that the financial services sector is facing.
of-sale devices. If the receipt given to a dinner party has a QR code printed on the bottom, customers can simply send the funds from their table. Of course, this opens the question of whether or not skimmers will then create “hacked” receipt printers that print a faulty QR code to reinvent the skimming technique. Undoubtedly, scammers will constantly do their best to innovate faster than current technology; however, skimmers will be in unfamiliar territory. Bitcoin is sure to face its fair share of problems in the future, but it can clearly aid the current struggles facing the financial world and the people who are victims. After all, it is a person-toperson technology.
Bitcoin’s Advantages The obvious advantages of Bitcoin are that it’s cardless and that it’s a “push” transaction not a “pull” transaction. Simply scan the QR code with your phone, and the money is sent near-instantly. Suddenly the skimmers are sent www.atmandcards.com
September 8, 2014
NCR Drive-Thru Timer improves customer experience at Golden Chick Golden Chick, a quick service restaurant based in Texas, has piloted the NCR Drive-Thru Timer to improve the customer experience and efficiency of its business. NCR software and hardware integrates with a restaurant’s existing point of sale system, such as Aloha, to provide a digital display of real-time data on speed, accuracy and ticket averages to optimize drive-thru performance. Following the installation of the system in two of its corporate-owned locations, Golden Chick sales have grown in those locations. NCR will assist Golden Chick chain to maintain the speed and accuracy, particularly in the drivethru. In addition, Golden Chick will benefit from the real-time data necessary to identify areas for improvement and measure consistency to make the necessary improvements.
The NCR Drive-thru Timer gives real-time visibility into the operational efficiency of its drive-thru while providing with the necessary metrics to make adjustments. Jay Tharian, New Store Coordinator at Golden Chick, said: “We are piloting the system in two of our locations and have seen a significant increase in ticket count, ticket average and sales. We intend to roll this solution out to several of our sites by the end of 2015.” Drive-thru data is accessible at the store through easy-to-view displays for the crew and managers, while reports are available to management from any location via a web interface, said NCR. 1
Ondot unveils remote control app for payment cards The Card Control app - being offered to banks, not directly to consumers - lets users turn their debit and credit cards on and off, giving them the power to decide where, when and how payments are made.
Californian startup Ondot systems has emerged from stealth mode, unveiling an app that lets people use their mobile phones to control over how their payments cards are used.
Users set preferences by location, merchant categories, and transaction types and spend limits, with payments rejected if they fall outside of the parameters. Customers can also set up push notifications for transactions, weekly and monthly spending, and balance and fraud alerts.
ATM receipts can be cancerous According to a study by the University of Aurangabad, Maharashtra, New Delhi, the habit of collecting receipts from the Automatic Teller Machine (ATM) can cost you dear. The research says that the skinny, smooth paper that comes out of the ATM machine is coated with Bisphenol A (BPA), ), Bisphenol B (BPS), stabiliser and many other chemicals. These chemicals may cause cancer, obesity, diabetes and a bad immune system if comes in direct contact with the skin.
Access Bank, Visa Card partners partner Shoptomydoor.com In line with the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN’s) cashless initiative, ACCESS Bank Plc, in conjunction with VISA, has announced a business partnership with an online shipping company, shoptomydoor.com. This service which is exclusive for Visa cardholders is an effort at boosting electronic payments, ecommerce and fostering ease of transactions according to Victor Etuokwu, Executive Director, Personal Banking. He added that “This partnership offers Access Bank Visa Card holders various discount services which include free sign up on shoptomydoor.com portal, free 12 month premium account, continuous discount from selected online stores, 10 per cent discount on low shipping cost till 31st December, 2014 etc. www.atmandcards.com
We believe that our customers will benefit immensely from this innovation, and the process is straightforward”.
the world’s major international retailers with more flexibility and convenience. They can make purchases online in these countries as if they were local residents The partnership will afford and also have it shipped Access Bank Visa Card in a few business days. holders the opportunity to Shoptomydoor.com, shop online at retailers in which is a global player the United States, United in the e-commerce and Kingdom and China, as e-procurement industry, well as enjoy exclusive offers a faster and more shipping discounts directly effective means of to their doorsteps. conducting transactions With this laudable over the internet and is development, Access currently being used by Bank VISA cardholders millions of customers could now shop from across the world.
As per the study, if one holds the receipt for 5 seconds, 1mg BP BPA will stay on the fingers. The process grows to be ten times faster in presence of moisture. What is more alarming is that if your skin stays in direct contact with the paper for say 10 hours, the quantity of BPA you’ll consume will be 42 per cent more than normal. In countries like New York, France, Denmark and Sweden, the use of BPA on paper is restricted and there are provisions for those who break the rule.
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Weird things the atm can do beside cash (Cupcakes, pot, gold bars water) ATM now dispenses cupcakes Technological developments have made it possible for the ATM to dispense cakes instead of cash. According to dailynews.com, the first cupcake ATM opened in Beverly Hills, Calif., in 2012, and since, Sprinkles has also installed the machines in Chicago, Dallas and Atlanta. The machine, which is open 24 hours a day, can dispense up to four cupcakes ($4.25 each), cookies and doggie cupcakes at the same time. The bakery is open to customers about 12 hours a day, but since employees are at the shop baking around the clock, the cupcakes will be freshly baked in the machine.
ATM Dispenses Gold Bars
This ATM allows you to use a credit card or cash to purchase one ounce gold bars for around $1,300, in addition to 10 gram bars for about $490 and 5 gram bars for $255, depending on market prices. You can also purchase gold and silver coins, along with commemorative Bronx Zoo silver coins and pieces. According to a Times piece, as of 2009 there were only about 20 such Gold ATMs in the world, slightly edging out the international Cupcake ATM count. And it appears these machines, created by German gold dealers TGGold-Super-Market www.atmandcards.com
Water dispensing ATM
150 million Indians have no access to clean water, according to government data. Water shortages are a perennial problem in much of India and the government is facing extra heat over water. To solve this problem, Delhi’s government installed 500 "water ATMs" across the city. The tall cylindrical concrete structures hold solar powered machines that look and function like an ATM. Instead of cash, they dispense water. The innovative idea was initiated by an Indian social enterprise called Sarvajal -- meaning water for all. For one cent, one can draw up to four liters of water. That's cheap even by Indian standards. "Now Indians can get water whenever we feel like it." 3
ATM machine dispenses pot, not cash If Americans get their cash from an ATM and their Snickers bars from a vending machine, then why not automated cannabis distribution as well? In 2010, California entrepreneur Vincent Mehdizadeh received a U.S. patent for his “biometric dispensing marijuana machine.” His company, Medbox,, has since gone public—and public made Mehdizadeh the legal weed industry’s first billionaire. Here he speaks about his invention and how he use an ATM to dispense pot and not cash. We’ve seen stories about your machines, but you don’t have any set up at the mall or airport, right? I have the patents on consumer-accessed marijuana ATMs, but we have not offered that concession until social sentiment catches up to us. So until that day comes, what’s the use of a pot ATM? We put the machines behind the counter in dispensaries and they’re marketed as secure safes. They hook into a point-of-sale system and spit out exact quantities in grams. Every transaction is monitored for tax purposes. It’s about inventory control. I guess with all these cash-only dispensaries sitting on a mountain of weed, security would be an issue. What’s great is that we’ve had a few breakins, and they took a sledgehammer to the Medbox machine to try to open it and they can’t. So the medicine doesn’t make it out onto the street. Safety is a big deal. There are many critics who think that marijuana edibles—stuff like lollipops and candy—are only going to encourage kids to try pot. Does that worry you? It’s a major concern of mine. The reality is that many of these products are being marketed like Froot Loops. We as a company are striving to control how the medicine is dispensed, to make sure the right person is getting it. www.atmandcards.com
You refer to “medicine,” which is the only way weed is sold legally in most states. Recreational users snicker, but are there advantages to taking a conservative approach to pot? The reality is that we’re already in a vice industry, and the smart play is keeping a conservative approach, being transparent. In order for this industry to be taken seriously and truly go mainstream, it needs to act responsibly.
change in the next election. Do you think this relaxed stance about weed will go out the window? It could, but it won’t.
Let’s say the next United States president and Congress decide to
Interview by Robert Klara, Picture Illustration by Nick Iluzada. Called from adweek news.
Why not? No matter what side of the fence you’re on, they’ll understand it from a purely procedural level. The government is starting to see tax and income benefits from this industry.
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This is what the ATM of the future looks like Electronic banking kiosks (EBKs) will soon be introduced by JPMorgan Chase’s consumer division, Chase Bank. The EBK is a spiffier, tablet-based version of the ATM. Right now, their features are pretty familiar to any ATM user, though the machines can cough up cash in a variety of denominations. (For example in one interaction, you can withdraw a mix of and $10 and $20 bills, if you like.).
The machine can also cash a check and give you exact change. More features, such as biometric scanning (identifying customers by their palm prints), one day sync to an app on your mobile phone that allows you to withdraw money remotely and more. Currently the company has rolled out about 1,000 EBKs in the US with an eye toward adding another 600 by the end of year, a bank official said. EBKs would still represent at fraction of the bank’s more than 20,000 ATMs. Of course, there’s a solid business case behind boosting the capabilities of ATMs; they’re cheaper than humans. The bank plans to axe 8,000 jobs this year, with a large chunk of those redundancies coming from its mortgage and retail banking business
Austin Chamber of Commerce awards Wincor Nixdorf the 2014 FrankfurtRheinMain International Award Global ATM and information technology (IT) solutions provider Wincor Nixdorf has been selected by the Austin Chamber of Commerce to receive the 2014 FrankfurtRheinMain International Award, which honors investments by international companies in Austin that create jobs locally, as well as Austin-based companies that have expanded internationally. Wincor Nixdorf received this award because of its foreign direct investment as a non-U.S.based company. "Wincor Nixdorf is deeply honored to receive this award," said Javier López-Bartolomé, Senior Vice President, Region Americas, and Wincor Nixdorf USA President & CEO. "Having our U.S. headquarters in Austin www.atmandcards.com
allows us to leverage the region's tremendous pool of technology talent to provide leading-edge IT solutions for our clients. Austin provides an excellent environment for our business and our employees to thrive." The 2014 Greater Austin Business Awards are the result of a competition organized by the Austin Chamber of Commerce to honor excellence in business in the Greater Austin region. The awards recognize businesses and organizations for achievements, community contributions and milestones. The competition is the largest business event in Central Texas, bringing together 1,000 business leaders, entrepreneurs, organizations, government officials, and regional chambers.
CAN THIS BUG MAKE AN ATM MORE SECURE? Researchers in Switzerland think a bombardier beetle might be perfect for securing the ATM.. The bettle which is a halfinch long has the most aggressive chemical defense in nature.
For the protection of cash boxes, the researchers added dye and nanoparticles How does it works? wrapped in DNA to the when threatened, the mix. If the film is destroyed, bombardier beetle spews a the dye devalues the marked corrosive spray on his money and the DNA allows attacker to kill or disable the notes to be traced. it. And he mixes up this Laboratory experiments toxic, scalding-hot with 5-euro notes showed concoction himself. In a that the method works. And "reaction chamber" at the the costs are reasonable, the back end of the beetle, researchers write — about two chemicals are mixed 40 dollars per square meter of film and combined with enzymes to activate an explosion. 5
Gujrat milkmen get their own bank accounts, ATM cards Joseph Verghese has launched a financial payment method that has given 60,000 milk producers their own bank accounts with an ATM card. Verghese, a software engineer, has developed a device called, 'Tonto', and a software which ensures that the milk producers of Mehsana are not duped of even one rupee. At each co-operative center, a computerised system measures the weight and the fat content of the milk brought by the farmers and also calculates the amount that has to be paid. The 'Tonto' database has the necessary information for this calculation. The
Payza allows members to move wallet funds directly to visa credit and debit cards In order to make members experience simple and enjoyable online payments, Payza, a leading online payments technology platform now offers an option for members to withdraw funds from their Payza balances directly to their Visa credit and Visa debit cards. "Withdraw Funds by Credit Card" is available for Payza members in most countries no matter the account type. Members can check the availability of the program by going to Payza's Local Payment Options page. Members who currently don't have a credit card connected to their Payza account can easily add one by clicking on the "Credit Card" button within their wallet. Once the credit card information has been entered, withdrawals can be made immediately by selecting "credit card" under the "withdraw funds" tab. Once the Transaction PIN has been confirmed the transaction is complete. In addition to "Withdrawal Funds to Credit Cards" feature, Payza has also announced Bitcoin Withdrawal, Mobile-Friendly Design, In-Page Checkout, One-Step Sign Up and Balance Top Up this quarter. www.atmandcards.com
device is plugged into a specialdesigned ATM called the Gujarat Rural Group (GRG) ATM twice a day. Information about the amount that has to be paid to different milk producers is immediately transferred from the 'Tonto' to the bank's central servers. Within a few hours the money, is credited to the farmers' accounts. "Earlier, milk producers had to wait for two weeks for payments. This took place only when the attendant at the co-operative physically visited the nearest bank branch and brought the
cash required for payment. (It used to take two hours to reach the branch.) This was an unsafe system and even payments made were questioned. Tonto and the GRG-ATM installed by HDFC bank has eliminated all that," Verghese said. The technology has been implemented in 105 villages in Mehsana district and 155 more will be covered in the next few months. Significantly, a majority of the beneficiaries are women since more women are involved in dairy farming. Apart from immediate access to cash, the beneficiaries can also avail of bank loans.
Emirates ID cards to be used for ATM transactions in the UAE. Abu Dhabi-based Islamic lender Al Hilal Bank has enabled customers to conduct transactions through its ATM machines using the Emirates identity card (Emirates ID). The initiative, which resulted from a partnership with Emirates Identity Authority (EIDA), marks the first time that Emirates ID cards will be used for ATM transactions in the UAE. A pilot project to test the viability of the scheme was also conducted prior to its launch. Through the scheme, Al Hilal Bank has been authorised to access information such as name, passport number and nationality from the card to verify transactions at the ATMs. “We value the role of technology in ensuring convenience and quality services to our clients, which is why we eagerly pursued our partnership with EIDA to come up with the ‘Your Emirates ID… Your New Debit Card’ project,” said Mohamed Jamil Berro, group CEO, Al Hilal Bank.
The EIDA has seen rising interest among banks looking to adopt this scheme, a senior official said earlier this year. “Since we announced that we are piloting the project about withdrawing money from the EID card, so many banks approached us and they all want to use the ID card,” said Ali Al Khouri, director general of the EIA. Almost 10 banks have approached the authority to explore possibilities in using the ID card for financial transactions, he added. Al Khoori ruled out any challenges in facilitating the use of ID cards at ATMs, describing the platform as “flexible and scalable” and said banks were also looking to upgrade their infrastructure to accommodate its use for financial transactions. “So the focus of the Emirates ID is to ensure proper identity management and to ensure that we don’t have identity theft.”
“We encourage our customers to avail of the benefits of using their identity dards in our national ATM network.” 6
Bank of Jinzhou launches 'subbranch' concept with Huawei VTM Atmmarketplace
China's Bank of Jinzhou has officially opened its newest subbranch after a six-month trial run. The facility has deployed a virtual teller machine remote bank solution from Huawei, marking the Fi's move toward a smart bank model. Located in a self-service zone, the VTM enables voice and video communication as well as desktop sharing between customers and remote bank tellers to implement an
array of functions, a Huawei press release said. The machine fills the gap between "face-to-face" and self-service banking services for BOJ. During the trial operation, the Huawei VTM solution
won favor for its streamlined customer service experience, the release said. For example, the VTM allows customers to open an account in a matter of minutes, considerably less time than is required to do so at a teller counter.
The VTM solution has dramatically simplified other service operations as well, Huawei said. BOJ plans a broader implementation of the Huawei VTM in a wide range of locations such as airports, metro stations, business districts and residential communities, where they will serve as "unattended bank outlets" providing 24/7 customer service.
Amazon.com launch new Visa Rewards card they earn in percentage back rewards. However users of the US card will get no Back rewards for purchases on overseas Amazon sites (e.g. EU sites).
Amazon has launched a new Amazon.com Rewards Visa card with Chase Bank (J P Morgan). Users of the card will get 3% Back from Amazon purchase, 2% at petrol station, restaurants and drug stores and 1% on all other purchases. Percentage back rewards are earned as points, card holders will get one point for every penny www.atmandcards.com
Back rewards can be redeemed for instant savings at Amazon.com checkout on qualifying purchases. Users can also redeem Back rewards for cash back, gift cards and travel through Amazon’s travel redemption center. As a sign up bonus a $30 Amazon.com Gift Card will be instantly loaded into user’s Amazon.com accounts upon the approval of their credit card application.
Jailed for 82 years: Gang who blew up ATMS to steal £800,000 in cash Five members of a gang were jailed for a total of 82 years. The gang used oxyacetylene gas tanks to blast open 31 ATMs across the northwest and Midlands stealing nearly £800,000. Detective Chief Inspector Gayle Rooney, from Merseyside Police, said: "These five men thought they were untouchable and they used hazardous tactics in targeting ATMs, clearly endangering members of the public. "The techniques used by the men involved in these attacks were extremely dangerous and we are fortunate that no-one was hurt. "These men were driven by greed and a need to fund lavish lifestyles, expensive cars, holidays and large houses. "They didn't think about the danger of what they were doing and the potential that they could cause serious and significant injuries to others through their reckless actions."
Bulgarian man jailed for using fake ATM cards. A 31 year old man-Todorov Yordan Valentinov, was sentenced for two years in prison for using fake ATM cards to withdraw money from Vietnamese banks in Ho Chi Minh City. Valentinov was arrested on Oct. 26, 2013 in Ho Chi Minh City by security guards of ACB Bank when he was withdrawing money at an ATM booth on Pham Ngu Lao St., he was found with 38 fake ATM cards. Valentinov told the HCMC People’s Court that a man named Ivan gave him the fake cards and told him to use them to withdraw money in Vietnam. He added that Ivan said he would be paid 10 percent of the withdrawn money. Valentinov arrived in HCMC on Oct. 5, 2014. He said he used the fake cards to withdraw money at various ATMs in the city’s downtown and made around 140 transactions, of which 96 were successful, and withdrew more than VND180 million (US$8,500) in total. However, he lost around VND170 million in an eatery, he said. After he was arrested, his family paid all the money he had appropriated to the Vietnamese banks. 7
MasterCard presents special privileges to cardholders in Azerbaijan
MasterCard announces the launch of new loyalty program 'MasterCard Privileges' for all their cardholders in Azerbaijan. The MasterCard Privileges Program offers all MasterCard cardholders a unique opportunity to enjoy special privileges available only to them, not only promotion discounts and gifts, but also unique experiences in most popular destinations of Baku. The program will be available only in Baku but aimed to be broadened around the country in the near future 'The MasterCard Privileges' program starts from 1 September 2014 in Azerbaijan and from now cardholders will experience new advantages from shopping, dining, and experiencing the city with MasterCard. During the campaign MasterCard cardholders will have 10% discount in all the Beat Group restaurants aurants and flower shops (Opera Sky, Opera Lounge, 150 Bar grill, Sumakh, Vivel, Bisque, Nakhchivan , Pakhlava and Lilac). Shopping fans will get 10% discount paying with their MasterCards at all MyBrands shops (Accessorize, Adidas, Bebe, Coast, Coccinelle,, Liu Jo, Monsoon, Nike, Nine West, Pabloski, Sisley, Tommy Hilfiger and UC of Benetton). Ideal Perfumery and cosmetics chain and Schwarzkopf Professional Studio beauty salons are also offering 10% for those who pay with their MasterCards. Apart from special discounts, in every mentioned place an additional privilege will be offered for MasterCard cardholders. So it is a right time to do shopping, have fun and travel with your MasterCard!
ATMIA publishes global position paper on Bitcoin ATMs
The ATM Industry Association has into the traditional ATM industry published its position paper on Bitcoinwith its established governance ATMs and Bitcoin. framework and security bes best practices. According to ATMIA’s news release, the new industry paper maintains that Specifically, ATMIA recommends a Bitcoin currency is not a threat to cash,joint clarification of conditions for a nor to established electronic payment Bitcoin ATM "license to operate," as methods. However, ATMIA well as peer relationships between recommends increased support and Bitcoin operators and exchanges and supervision of Bitcoin ATMs to ensurethe wider payments industry — that they abide by security best including stakeholders in the AT ATM practices and maintain the industry's industry. current high levels of consumer trust. New international security best "We reach out our hand of friendship practices for digital currencies could to Bitcoin ATM operators and be produced jointly to reduce the risk encourage them to come within the of cyber--crime attacks, AMIA fold of our industry and its governancebelieves. framework and best practices," said ATMIA CEO Mike Lee. "With over "Finally, the introduction of an 120 Bitcoin ATMs already installed in ainternational accreditation program variety of countries, the time is right tofor Bitcoin ATM operators, including integrate them upfront into an industryongoing education and training with a proven four-decade-long track programs, would seal the deal and set record of secure, convenient services tous on course for a successful synergy between Bitcoin innovators and cardholders and consumers." established operators," Lee said. The paper outlines the nature and Regulators around the world are recent growth of the decentralized watching the emergence of Bitcoin digital currency and discusses the with great eat interest, said Simon industry issues that need to be Gentry, ATMIA public affairs adviser addressed, such as mitigation of risk in Europe. By positioning itself from fraud, hacking attacks and money within the established governance laundering. structures of the ATMIA, the virtual According to the release, ATMIA currency will begin to address some believes that the best way for this to of the valid concerns of regulators happen is to integrate Bitcoin ATMs and politicians, h he said.
ATMandCards aggregates news about the ATM and card industry in Nigeria, Africa and the rest of the world. What we do? News, Issues, Analysis, Awareness and Advocacy. If you would like to support us please contact us. Editor: Geraldine Ugbaja. Telephone +234-7033-4533 4533-66, Website: www.atmandcards.com, Facebook page: facebook/www.atmandcards.org Twitter: www.twitter.com/atmandcards, Email: g.ugbaja@yahoo .ugbaja@yahoo.com ATM and Cards newsletter is a weekly publication published by ATMandCards. 18, durojaye Close. Akute. Lagos.
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