ATM fraud case: FIA arrests four more suspects from Islamabad
December 10, 2017
ISLAMABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency arrested on Sunday four more suspects in the Automated Teller Machines skimming fraud.
The FIA said that in the scandal, shopping mall cashiers were also found involved. Two suspects used to gather data from shopping malls, while the other two were involved in the scam from China online.
The FIA recovered fake debit cards and equipment from the suspects.
The four suspects were presented before a court and then handed over under a two-day physical remand.
On Friday, in a press conference in Islamabad, FIA Director Shakeel Durrani revealed the details of the ongoing investigation. According to which a link was found between the under-custody prime suspect and an Indian national.
An Indian, Saurav and a woman named Ayesha from Italy were found involved in the fraud, said the FIA director, adding that there could be a gang behind the skimming scam.
Earlier this month, it emerged that hundreds of citizens in Pakistan have lost millions of rupees over a couple of weeks after they fell prey to an ATM skimming fraud.
The investigation was launched when more than 500 consumers of banks across Pakistan complained to the authority regarding the scandal. The FIA is probing the matter under the Cyber Crimes Act.
The highest number of incidents of ATM skimming took place at a major shopping mall in Karachi's Clifton area.
What is ATM skimming?
ATM skimming can be regarded as identity theft for debit cards. Fraudsters employ different techniques to record your PIN code for accessing the hard-earned money in your account.
In some instances, the schemers stick a fake card-reader on the ATM, while in others they place a fake keypad on the machine to get your PIN code.
Another technique employed in this crime is the use of a hidden camera, which records your PIN code and conveys it to fraudsters.
A few ATM skimmers also change the entire display of the ATM.
