Abu Dhabi/Sharjah: A new rash of clever criminals are pilfering the pockets of victims in broad daylight near automated teller machines across the country, say police.
The latest wave of ATM scams are prompting police to issue warnings for people to be more alert, especially during Ramadan.
In Abu Dhabi and Sharjah, predators are using ingenious diversions to distract victims in order to snatch large sums of money newly withdrawn from bank machines, said police.
“Three men were arrested recently for robbing a bank customer,” said Colonel Tarek Khalfan Al Ghoul, deputy director of Criminal Investigation Department at Abu Dhabi Police. “After the victim withdrew money from the ATM, the three suspects rushed to the victim’s car and yelled that he had a flat tyre.”
After pointing and making a commotion, the victim got out of the car to inspect the alleged flat tyre on the other side.
“While the motorist was out, one of the suspects opened the door on the other side and took away an envelope containing the money,” said Col Al Ghoul.
Awareness
Police across the country recently launched a number of awareness campaigns against modern and old-fashioned ATM scams, after residents in the UAE were affected at an alarmingly high rate.
According to Sharjah Police, criminals distract the driver by either claiming that there is an oil leak or a flat tyre of the car.
On Wednesday, Sharjah Police said they are investigating an entirely new scam,
They arrested two African men on charges of robbing bank customers after they spit on them.
Police said the suspects spat on the victims and made off with money as the victim cleaned themselves, police said.
Colonel Ebrahim Al Ajel, Director of Criminal and Investigation Department at Sharjah Police, said they received two complaints from bank customers [one Asian and the other one Arab national] said that as part of the theft, the suspects apologised to the victims and feigned remorse by helping the victims clean up.
“Spitting on bank customers and stealing their money is a new ploy being employed by thieves in Sharjah. The whole operation took a few minutes as the victims were busy cleaning themselves. They fell victims to this ploy,” Colonel Al Ajel said.
Police formed a team to investigate the case and team identified the suspects and their whereabouts and arrested them.
The suspects confessed to their crime and they told police that they used this criminal method as it’s easy and they took advantage of the negligence of bank customers.
The case has been referred to the public prosecution.
Modern ATM scams
Card Reader: A skimming device, which looks similar to the original card reader. As customers insert their ATM card, bank account information on the card is “captured” and usually stored on a built in electronic device.
Hidden camera: A concealed camera is typically used along with the skimming device to record customers typing their PIN into the ATM keypad. Cameras are usually concealed somewhere on the front of the ATM, just above the screen in a fake ATM part - or somewhere nearby.
Keypad Overlay: It is placed directly on top of the keypad and instead of visually recording users punching in their PINs, a device inside the fake keypad stores the entered PIN.
