Identity Theft 101

Did you know...

  • 4.9% of U.S. adults fell victim to identity theft in 2011.†

ATM Overlays

An ATM overlay is a device that is placed over the keypad of an ATM. It is often disguised to look identical to the original keypad. Overlays allow thieves to capture your PIN number as you enter it, while still allowing the original keypad to receive the PIN number as well.

ATM Overlays

How Big a Threat are ATM Overlays?

By itself, an ATM overlay is not a tremendous source of identity theft. However, when combined with a mechanism that obtains your card information – such as a skimmer, loop, camera, or other device located at the ATM – a skimmer now allows the identity thief to have access to your bank account, including both your PIN and your debit or credit card number.

What does ATM Overlay Theft Cost Consumers?

As a component of ATM theft, ATM Overlay theft contributes to the estimated $1 billion in annual losses banks experience from ATM skimming.1

Information thieves can collect:

  • PIN Number

What thieves can do with this information:

  • Identity theft
  • Bank fraud

ATM Overlay Statistics:

  • Contributes to the estimated annual $1 billion bank loss due to ATM skimming.1

1 http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2041113,00.html

† Federal Trade Commission. “Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book For January – December 2011.” February 2012.
† Javelin Strategy & Research. "2012 Identity Fraud Report: Social Media and Mobile Forming the New Fraud Frontier." February 2012.