High-tech thieves target ATMs in Philippines

Staff Report MANILA - A crackdown is underway to catch high-tech thieves who use skimming devices to illegally withdraw cash from automated teller machines (ATMs) in the Philippines, police said. The Philippine National Police (PNP) Anti-Cybercrime Group has received numerous reports in recent months about missing deposits at ATMs. “With the increasing cases and loss of money because of ATM Card Fraud, the Joint Anti-Bank Robbery Action Committee has strengthen its focus in locating ATM Fraud syndicates who are responsible for putting skimming devices to an automated teller machines,” the PNP said in a statement. “Skimming devices are placed secretly in ATMs to copy the bank account data from inserted ATM cards and loot the owner’s bank account,” the PNP warned. Authorities said that in some cases, depositors were not aware that their account had been compromised until they withdrew money from the ATM. Police said several fraudsters have been arrested, including those from foreign countries. In May, two Bulgarians were arrested in Central Luzon while trying to install ATM skimming devices inside a mall in Pampanga. Police also arrested Italian Roberto De Cecco as he was about to install a skimming device at a local ATM. A member of the Presidential Security Group was also caught using a skimmer to break into the ATM of a local bank.

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