Criminals use ‘money bomb’ tactic to rob South Africans at ATMs

• Criminals are dropping fake money around ATMs to confuse customers as part of a coordinated form of theft.
• The rise of this tactic was flagged by the South African Banking Risk Information Centre (SABRIC) in its 2025 Annual Crime Statistics Report.
• ATM attacks and bank robberies are declining in South Africa, with both falling significantly in 2025.