Detecting unauthorized card skimmers

Abstract

In an example embodiment, an automated banking machine that includes an anti-fraud arrangement that can deter effective operation of unauthorized devices attached to the machine. The arrangement 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.

1 . A method, comprising:
 obtaining, by a processor, data representative of a bezel associated with an automated banking machine, the data representative of the bezel comprises data representative of an image for the bezel;   displaying, based on the data representative of the for the bezel, an image of the bezel on a display associated with the automated banking machine;   displaying on the display associated with the automated banking machine instructions requesting a user of the automated banking machine verify a bezel mounted on the automated banking machine matches the displayed image of the bezel;   obtaining, by the processor via a user interface associated with the automated banking machine, data that indicates whether the displayed image of the bezel matches the bezel mounted on the automated banking machine; and   disabling the automated banking machine by the processor responsive to the input from the user indicating that the displayed image of the bezel does not match the bezel mounted on the automated banking machine.   
     
     
         2 . The method set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising sending the data representative of the bezel to a remote server. 
     
     
         3 . The method set forth in  claim 2 , further comprising receiving the data representative of the image for the bezel from the remote server. 
     
     
         4 . The method set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising permitting a financial transaction to be conducted responsive to the data obtained via the user interface indicating that the bezel mounted on the automated banking machine matches the displayed image of the bezel. 
     
     
         5 . The method set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 causing, by a processor, a randomly generated code to be displayed on a display associated with the bezel; and   causing the randomly generated code to be displayed on the display associated with the automated banking machine.   
     
     
         6 . The method set forth in  claim 5 , further comprising obtaining data representative of an input from a user associated with the automated banking machine indicating whether the code displayed on the bezel matches the code displayed on the display. 
     
     
         7 . The method set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the obtaining data representative of a bezel associated with an automated banking machine comprises:
 sending a wireless signal to the bezel requesting bezel data; and   receiving from the bezel via a wireless signal the data representative of the bezel data.   
     
     
         8 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a bezel;   a card reader mounted on the bezel;   a display associated with the bezel;   a user input device;   a processor coupled with the bezel, the card reader mounted on the bezel, the display associated with the bezel, and the user input device;   the processor is operable to obtain from the bezel, data representative of a type of bezel;   the processor is operable to obtain an image corresponding to the type of bezel based on the data representative of the type of bezel;   the processor is operable to cause the image corresponding to the type of bezel to be output on the display;   the processor is operable to cause a message to be output on the display requesting an input indicating whether the bezel matches the image corresponding to the type of bezel output on the display;   the processor is operable to receive from the input data indicating whether the bezel matches the image corresponding to the type of bezel output on the display; and   the processor is operable to disable the card reader responsive to the data indicating whether the bezel matches the image corresponding to the type of bezel output on the display indicates that the bezel does not match the image corresponding to the type of bezel output on the display.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus set forth in  claim 8 , the processor is further operable to shut down the apparatus responsive to the data indicating whether the bezel matches the image corresponding to the type of bezel output on the display indicates that the bezel does not match the image corresponding to the type of bezel output on the display. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus set forth in  claim 8 , the processor is further operable to cause a message to be output on the display indicating the apparatus is out of service responsive to the data indicating whether the bezel matches the image corresponding to the type of bezel output on the display indicates that the bezel does not match the image corresponding to the type of bezel output on the display. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus set forth in  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a database associated with the processor;   the processor is operable to obtain the image corresponding to the type of bezel from the database.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus set forth in  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a communication interface;   the processor is operable to send the data representative of the type of bezel to a remote server via the communication interface; and   the processor is operable to obtain the image corresponding to the type of bezel based on the data representative of the type of bezel from the remote server via the communication interface.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus set forth in  claim 8 , the processor is operable to cause the card reader to obtain card data responsive to the data indicating whether the bezel matches the image corresponding to the type of bezel output on the display indicates that the bezel does match the image corresponding to the type of bezel output on the display. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus set forth in  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a communication interface; and   the processor is operable to send the card data to a remote computer via the communication interface.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus set forth in  claim 8 , further comprising:
 the bezel further comprises a bezel display;   the processor is operable to cause a randomly generated code to be output on the bezel display;   the processor is operable to cause the randomly generated code to be output on the display associated with the device   the processor is operable to output instructions on the display requesting verification that the code output on the display matches the code output on the bezel display;   the processor is operable to receive from the input data indicating whether the code output on the bezel display matches the code on the display; and   the processor is operable to disable the card reader responsive to the data indicating whether the code output on the bezel display matches code output on the display indicating that the code output on the bezel display does not match the code output on the display.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus set forth in  claim 8 , wherein the image corresponding to the type of bezel further comprises an image of the card reader that should be mounted thereon. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus set forth in  claim 16 , wherein the message output on the display requesting an input indicating whether the bezel matches the image corresponding to the type of bezel output on the display further comprises a request indicating whether the card reader mounted on the bezel matches the image of the card reader that should be mounted thereon. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus set forth in  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a wireless interface coupled with the processor; and   the processor is operable to obtain from the bezel, data representative of a type of bezel wirelessly via the wireless interface.   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus set forth in  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a touch screen coupled with the display;   wherein the touch screen is the user input device.   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus set forth in  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a keypad;   wherein the keypad is the user input device.