Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Jul 17: Police personnel attached to Tilak Nagar station here have arrested two foreigners who were found to be fixing skimming machines to ATMs to steal details of cards used there, and gathering PIN with the help of a mini camera fitted therein. They then used these informations to siphon off funds from the ATMs.

A skimming equipment and some other items were seized from the two who hail from Chile. The police are on the lookout for two more Chile citizens who have escaped. The culprits had fitted skimming machines and cameras in Canara Bank ATMs located within the limits of Cubbon Park and Ashok Nagar stations. After coming to India on visitors visas, they had reached New Delhi in May this year and then travelled to the city. They set up residence here and began hunting for ATMs which would be easier targets for them. They used to install the skimming machines at the slot meant for inserting of the cards, and the cameras near the keypads used to punch PIN. At nights they used to take away these equipment to collect details, duly taking care not to arouse any suspicion, the police said.

During the last about one month, the accused stole information about various cards. In the recent past, employees of Jayanagar branch of Canara Bank had noticed that skimming machine had been installed in an ATM. They informed the police, who visited the ATM and found that camera and skimming machine had been fitted there. The police, knowing well that the culprits would visit the ATM, waited for them. When they came to the ATM at around 8.45 pm, the police, who were waiting since the last four years, nabbed them.

By the time the two were questioned and led to their residence, the other two who were accomplices in the crime, vacated the home and fled. Therefore, fake cards were not found there. The police are now searching for the two who have escaped.

The police said that the designs of some ATMs is such that skimming machines cannot be installed there. However, some banks have installed old kind of ATMs where these machines can be easily installed, they added. The thieves used to withdraw money at nights.