Two foreign nationals arrested for stealing from ATMs using skimmers

The CID Cyber Crime branch police arrested two foreign nationals who were hacking into bank accounts by stealing data through skimmers and concealed cameras. Don Sabian Christian (40) a Romanian and his accomplice Mare Janos (44) a Hungarian came to India for the purpose of stealing credit card and debit card details, reported Kannada Prabha. 

They attach skimmer tools and spy cameras at ATMs and steal data and transfer to their partners in UK, who withdraw money. During the preliminary investigation it was found that they had stolen money to the tune of Rs 10 lakh from various accounts. The two were caught in Jamaica for the same crime and were barred from entering the US.

This is their first time in India. They arrived on September 1 and checked into Curzan Court hotel on MG Road. Later they changed into a hotel at Mahalakshmi Layout.  They had fitted the skimmers at five ATMs in the City. One was at the Kotak Mahindra Bank ATM near the Kempegowda International Airport. The bank officials had seen the CCTV footage of them fitting the skimmer in the ATM and lodged a complaint with the police. A special squad was formed to nab the culprits and they were on the vigil.

The two were found moving about in a suspicious manner near the Kotak Mahindra ATM. They visited the ATM several times. When the police surrounded them, the culprits tried to get into a taxi and escape but the police chased and nabbed them. On interrogation it was found that they had traveled to the US, Mexico, Jamaica and Philippines on fake passports. They have been taken into police custody till September 22. The Consulates have been informed.

They had installed the skimmers at Canara Bank ATM, MG Road, Garuda Mall ATM, Kotak Mahindra ATM at Trinity Circle.  They would first visit the ATM like they wanted to use it but take photos and videos. They would sit at the hotel and make the skimmer devises to suit that particular ATM and fix it the next day, early in the morning or when security guards were not present. After a couple of days they would bring back the skimmer and start transferring the data to their partners abroad. The two are post graduates with complete technical know how, who arrived with all necessary parts to build the skimmers.    

They had already stolen Rs 10 lakh. The skimmer they had fixed in the ATMs on Brigade Road and other places have been seized. At the press meet CID DGP Kishore Chandra, CID ADGP Pratap Reddy and IGP Chandrashekhar displayed the skimmer seized from the culprits. The police have asked the people who have lost money through ATMs to contact the Cyber Crime Branch with details.

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