Fraud detection system and method

A fraud detection system for a reverse vending machine, the system comprising:

• a reverse vending machine including a compactor adapted to compact entered containers by applying a load to the containers;
• a detector adapted to detect at least one container entered into the reverse vending machine;
• a compactor load sensor adapted to measure the load of the compactor of the reverse vending machine during operation, wherein the compactor is adapted to compact entered containers downstream of the detector;
• and
• a non-transitory computer program product comprising code for performing, when run on a computer device, the steps of:
• determining whether at least one container detected by the detector is compacted as expected by the compactor based on a load of the compactor measured by the compactor load sensor;
• calculating and/or updating a fraud factor based on the determination whether the at least one container detected by the detector is compacted as expected by the compactor;
• issuing a trigger signal if the fraud factor exceeds a threshold, wherein the trigger signal triggers an alarm or shut-down of the reverse vending machine, or inhibits crediting of a refund value;
• and
• causing operation of the reverse vending machine to continue if the fraud factor does not exceed the threshold.