Patent Description:
Unauthorized reading of card data, such as data encoded on a magnetic stripe of a customer's debit or credit card, while the card is being used ("card skimming"), is a known type of fraud. Card skimming is most often done by adding a skimmer, i.e., an assembly including a separate magnetic read head, to the front fascia of an automated teller machine (ATM) or gas pump which reads the magnetic stripe on the customer's card as the card is inserted or removed from the ATM or gas pump.

Current systems and methods for detecting skimmers are based on the use of a single capacitive sensor. As card skimming technology has become more sophisticated, the detection threshold of the single capacitive sensor-based system has been changed in a way which could result in more false alerts. In addition, single capacitive sensor-based systems may also be prone to cancellation effects resulting in the failure to detect a skimmer mounted on an ATM or gas pump.

<CIT> describes an automated banking machine that allows for the machine's card slot bezel to be frequently exchanged for a differently configured card slot bezel, where the bezel configuration is displayed to a potential user.

Accordingly, there is a need for a fraud detection system and method which addresses the drawbacks identified above.

According to the present invention there is provided a system for detecting a foreign object as defined in appended claim <NUM> and a method for detecting a foreign object placed adjacent to a bazel for a magnetic card reader device as defined in claim <NUM>. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are defined by the dependent claims.

The following detailed description, given by way of example and not intended to limit the present disclosure solely thereto, will best be understood in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:.

In the present disclosure, like reference numbers refer to like elements throughout the drawings, which illustrate various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

As known in the art, automated teller machines (ATMs) typically include a graphic user interface for displaying information, a keypad for receiving user inputs, a bezel which has a card slot for accepting and guiding a user's credit/debit card into a card reader mechanism, a slot for dispensing a printed receipt, a cash dispensing slot for withdrawing money, and a cash deposit slot for depositing money. A controller is programmed to control the operation of the ATM and to manage external communications with a remote host. ATMs of this nature are well known and will not be described in detail herein. A gas pump which accepts credit/debit cards includes similar elements, except for the cash dispensing and deposit slots. Skimmers are typically mounted by thieves on or over the bezel of the ATM, gas pump, or other type of magnetic card reader device and are designed in a way to match or hide the original bezel so that a user does not realize that the skimmer is in place on the ATM or gas pump before the use thereof.

Referring now to <FIG>, a front (exterior) portion <NUM> of an example bezel <NUM> is shown. Bezel <NUM> is typically a separate part, e.g., a molded plastic part, that covers the magnetic card reader device. Bezel <NUM> includes a slot <NUM> for inserting a magnetic stripe card and a cavity <NUM> which provides space for use in inserting and withdrawing the magnetic stripe card. The bezel <NUM> shown in <FIG> is an example of a bezel to cover a magnetic card reader device used on, e.g., an ATM or gas pump, but the particular shape or configuration of a bezel is arbitrary (i.e., dependent on the particular implementation) and thus not material with respect to the operation of the systems and method of the present disclosure. The systems and method of the present disclosure are applicable to any type of machine or equipment having an integral magnetic card reader device for reading a magnetic stripe card such as a credit or debit card via a slot (or other cavity for receiving a magnetic stripe card) in order to detect the placement of a skimmer placed over or near the card slot thereof.

Referring now to <FIG>, a rear (interior) portion <NUM> of bezel <NUM> is shown including plate areas for forming capacitive sensors. In particular, in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a series of capacitive plates 200a, 200b,. 200n are placed in various positions on an inner surface <NUM> of bezel <NUM>, where n is a number greater than or equal to two (<NUM>). As shown in <FIG>, each of the capacitive plates <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> (corresponding to capacitive plates 200a, 200b,. 200n in <FIG>) is connected directly to a first switch (S1) <NUM> and to a second switch (S2), which each operate under the control of a controller <NUM>. First switch <NUM> is also connected to a drive circuit <NUM> and is configured to selectively connect drive circuit <NUM> to one of the capacitive plates <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> based on an input from controller <NUM>. Drive circuit <NUM> outputs a predetermined alternating current (AC) signal (a reference signal) to the selected one of the capacitive plates <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> as the transmit plate. Second switch <NUM> is also connected to a detection circuit <NUM> and is configured to selectively connect one of the capacitive plates <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> to the detection circuit <NUM> based on an input from controller <NUM> (the selected plate acting as the receive plate). Detection circuit <NUM> is configured to monitor the phase and/or magnitude of the signal received from each capacitive plate <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> (the reference signal) and is connected to controller <NUM> to provide an indication of the measured signal to controller <NUM>. In <FIG>, separate components are shown for the first switch <NUM>, the second switch <NUM>, the drive circuit <NUM>, the detection circuit <NUM>, and the controller <NUM>. As one of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize, these circuits may all be provided as part of the functionality of a single controller (represented by the dotted line <NUM>), integrated into a controller, or in other combinations thereof.

When controller <NUM> determines that the phase and/or magnitude of the received signal has changed from the predetermined value (i.e., a baseline value determined when no additional structure is placed over the front of bezel <NUM>), it can indicate that some structure (e.g., a foreign object of some sort) has been placed over the front portion of bezel <NUM>. This occurs because air and portions of bezel <NUM> fall between each plate pair and act as a dielectric (with a fixed dielectric constant), and a changed signal at the receive plate indicates a change in the dielectric. By using more than two plates which can each act as a transmit plate or a receive plate, a set of three plates provides three different capacitive sensor combinations (plate pairs), a set of four plates provides six different capacitive sensor combinations, a set of five plates provides ten different capacitive sensor combinations, etc. Rather than just a single capacitive sensor focusing on one area of the bezel (i.e., when only two plates are used), the use of multiple capacitor plates placed in and around the rear of the bezel, as shown in <FIG>, provides a much greater detection zone for materials placed over the front portion of the bezel <NUM>. However, only two plates may be used when additional sensors based on one or more different technologies are also used, as discussed herein. By sequentially applying a fixed signal to each transmit plate, and measuring the signal at each associated receive plate, the signal received at each receive plate will have a predetermined magnitude and phase in normal operation. However, if additional materials are inserted between any of the plates pairs (e.g., by placing structure over the front face of the bezel <NUM>), the dielectric constant of each plate pair will change and the magnitude and phase of the signal received at the receive plate, as measured by detection circuit <NUM>, will also change. When this change persists or when the received signals from a number of transmit plates change, it can indicate that some structure, e.g., a skimmer, has been placed over the face of bezel <NUM>. This provides a much greater detection area than previous solutions, and makes it much more difficult to design a skimmer structure that could avoid detection when only one or two capacitive sensors are provided.

Referring now to <FIG>, a rear portion <NUM> of bezel <NUM> is shown including a time of flight sensor <NUM>. Time of flight sensor <NUM> is coupled to a controller <NUM>, as shown in <FIG> below. Time of flight sensor <NUM> is mounted adjacent to an aperture <NUM> (shown in <FIG>) and at a point where light emitted from the sensor <NUM> through the aperture 110will reflect back from another part of the front of bezel <NUM> or a front portion of the associated ATM machine (or gas pump). For example, time of flight sensor <NUM> may be positioned along the top lip of the bezel <NUM> facing down (so that emitted light will travel downwards). A time of flight sensor measures a distance of an object in the path of its emitted light based on the time of reflection from that object. Time of flight sensor <NUM> provides a predetermined output (a reference output) when no structure is added to the face of bezel <NUM>. Any change in the output from time of flight sensor <NUM> indicates that some structure, such as a skimmer, has been placed over the front face <NUM> of bezel <NUM> and thereby interrupted the sensor's light path. By combining the use of capacitive sensors, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, with the time of flight sensor shown in <FIG>, an additional level of confidence will be provided in determining when a skinner has been placed over the front of bezel <NUM>. In some cases, a time of flight sensor may be used alone, e.g., when the bezel <NUM> is configured in a manner in which a skimmer may only be located in one place, but in most cases it is preferable to use both capacitive sensors as set forth above and one or more time of flight sensors.

Referring now to <FIG>, a rear portion <NUM> of bezel <NUM> is shown including a spectral sensor <NUM>. A spectral sensor uses a light transmitter and receiver with various filters to measure the spectrum of reflected light, allowing multiple feedback capabilities on a single sensor. Spectral sensor <NUM> is coupled to controller <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>, and is mounted in a position where It detects, based on a change in light level, if the light at the front face of bezel <NUM> falls below a predetermined minimum light level, thereby indicating that the front face of bezel <NUM> has been covered, e.g. by a skimmer. Spectral sensor <NUM> may also be used as a reflective sensor, detecting a reflective pattern when the front face of bezel <NUM> is covered, and as a material analysis sensor, providing different responses over the reflected light spectrums, depending on the composition of the material placed over the front face of bezel. The use of a spectral sensor <NUM>, in addition to the capacitive sensors and/or one or more time of flight sensors discussed above, provides an added level of confidence that any skimmer placed over the front face of bezel <NUM> will be detected without an undue number of false alarms.

Referring now to <FIG>, a rear portion <NUM> of bezel <NUM> is shown including a radar sensor <NUM> that is coupled to a controller <NUM> as shown in <FIG>. Radar sensor <NUM> transmits and receives radio waves in a forward direction through the body of bezel <NUM> in order to generate a three-dimensional image of the area around outside of the bezel <NUM>. Radar sensor <NUM> continually monitors bezel <NUM>, and by incorporating image processing techniques into controller <NUM>, a predetermined baseline image of the bezel <NUM> can be compared in real-time to signals from radar sensor <NUM> in order to detect any changes from that baseline image, thereby indicating that some structure has been added to the front of bezel <NUM>. Radar sensor <NUM> provides an advantage in that no aperture is required in bezel <NUM> for use thereof, because the radio waves emitted by radar sensor <NUM> pass through the body of bezel <NUM>. As with the spectral sensor, the addition of a radar sensor to a system using capacitive sensors, one or more time of flight sensors, and/or one or more spectral sensors provides an added level of confidence that any skimmer placed over the front face of bezel <NUM> will be detected without an undue number of false alarms.

Referring now to <FIG>, a rear portion <NUM> of bezel <NUM> is shown including an inductive sensor <NUM> that is coupled to a controller <NUM> as shown in <FIG>. Inductive sensor <NUM> acts as a proximity sensor, detecting metallic objects placed within the magnetic field. This is particularly useful in detecting the metallic portions of skimmers, e.g., read-heads, placed over bezel <NUM>. Although only one inductive sensor <NUM> is shown in <FIG>, more than one sensor may be employed, each sensor positioned on the rear of bezel <NUM> in areas close to where a read-head of a skimmer could be positioned, e.g., in and around the slot area <NUM> of the bezel <NUM>. As with the radar sensor <NUM>, inductive sensor <NUM> does not require an aperture in bezel <NUM> to operate. The addition of an inductive sensor to a system using capacitive sensors, one or more time of flight sensors, one or more spectral sensors, and/or one or more radar sensors provides an added level of confidence that any skimmer placed over the front face of bezel <NUM> will be detected without an undue number of false alarms.

Referring now to <FIG>, a block diagram shows the interconnection of the various sensors with a controller <NUM>. Controller <NUM> is shown as a single element in <FIG>, but may also consist of a number of separate components that operate together to provide the required functionality. In particular, at least three capacitive plates <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> are each separately connected to controller <NUM>. Controller <NUM> is configured in the manner shown in <FIG> discussed above to allow one of the capacitive plates <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> to be selectively set as a transmit plate and the other to be set as a receive plate. Controller <NUM> is configured to step through each possible combination of plates and compare the phase and/or magnitude of each receive (measurement) signal (i.e., the signal found at each receive plate) with a stored baseline value. When a receive signal differs from the stored (predetermined) baseline signal by at least a predetermined amount (i.e., a predetermined threshold), it is an indication that some additional structure (e.g., a skimmer) has been placed on the front of bezel <NUM>. In addition, one or more of a time of flight sensor <NUM>, a spectral sensor <NUM>, a radar sensor <NUM>, and an inductive sensor <NUM> may also be coupled to controller <NUM>. Controller <NUM> is configured to process the inputs received from each sensor, as discussed above, and determine whether each of the signals vary from a respective predetermined baseline level by a predetermined threshold to determine if a structure such as a skimmer has been placed over the front face of bezel <NUM>. Controller <NUM> is configured to determine that structure of some sort (e.g., a skimmer) has been found pursuant to the steps shown in flowchart <NUM> in <FIG> discussed below. Once controller <NUM> does determine that a skimmer or other structure has been placed over the front face of bezel <NUM>, an alarm signal is generated on output <NUM>. This alarm signal can be routed to the main control circuitry for the associated ATM or gas pump in order to cease operations until a repair is performed. This signal may also be forwarded (via circuitry not shown) to a main control location for the associated ATM or gas pump, in order to generate a repair order for that ATM or gas pump. In some cases, the alarm signal may be provided to an electronically controlled shutter mounted over the card slot which closes upon receipt of the alarm, preventing any insertion of a magnetic stripe card into the card slot. In other cases, a message may be displayed on a display of the ATM or gas pump which states that the ATM or gas pump is out of order and no card should be inserted into the card slot.

Claim 1:
A system for detecting a foreign object, comprising:
a first sensor mounted adjacent to a bezel (<NUM>) for a magnetic card reader device, the first sensor providing a first signal that varies when a foreign object is placed adjacent to an exterior portion of the bezel;
a second sensor mounted adjacent to the bezel, the second sensor providing a second signal that varies when a foreign object is placed adjacent to the exterior portion of the bezel, the second sensor operating according to a different technology than the first sensor; and
a controller (<NUM>) coupled to the first sensor and the second sensor, the controller configured to receive the first signal and the second signal;
wherein the first sensor is capacitive-based and includes at least three plates (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) mounted adjacent to the bezel, each of the three plates coupled to the controller, the at least three plates forming capacitive pairs with each pair comprising two of the at least three plates, and wherein the controller is configured to sequentially apply a reference signal to a selected one of the two plates in each capacitive pair and to receive a measurement signal from the other of the two plates in each capacitive pair, and wherein the measurement signal from each capacitive pair corresponds to the first signal;
wherein the controller is configured to generate an alarm signal when a majority of the measurement signals and the second signal differ from associated predetermined baseline signals by at least associated predetermined thresholds.