Police warns public vs. “Nakaw ATM” group

Police are warning the public of an organized crime group dubbed “Nakaw ATM” employing a new modus operandi victimizing Automated Teller Machine cardholders. 

Cebu Provincial Police director, Senior Supt. Carmelo Valmoria said the syndicate installs equipment at legitimate banks with ATMs to steal both the ATM card number and the Personal Identification Number of cardholders.

The group installs a skimmer mounted in front of the normal ATM cleverly disguised to look like the normal ATM equipment.

The skimmer reads the ATM card number and transmits the information to the perpetrator. The syndicate then installs a wireless gadget in a car and parks their getaway vehicle in front of the ATM machine where cardholders fall in line to withdraw cash.

The group thereafter waits nearby receiving information transmitted using wireless technology from the skimmer device. After gathering pertinent information, the group copies the cards.

The syndicate also puts up a wireless camera disguised to look like a leaflet holder, mounted in a position that would give a vantage view of PIN entries and uses these PINs to withdraw cash from many accounts in the ATM machine.

Valmoria has already issued a memorandum addressed to all chiefs of police in the province after the banking sector alarmed them of the operation of said organized crime group.

 “Kindly encourage your subordinates to disseminate this memorandum to their friends and relatives so as to preempt this syndicated crime group from victimizing scores of bank ATM cardholders,” Valmoria said.

As of the moment, no victim of such crime has ever reported yet.

The public is also warned of another modus which is the application of glue to ATM command buttons to make these difficult to press. The culprits apply glue to the inner side of the ATM card slot. Victims attempting to withdraw money would find themselves stuck at that command on the confirmation or cancellation of transactions.

A member of the crime group would then approach the victim pretending to be waiting in line, and offering to help get the card back. At some point, the suspect would ask the victim to reenter the PIN code.

When all else fails, the culprit would then suggest that the victim call the bank’s security guard. While away, the culprit then extracts the card from the machine and leaves.  – Garry B. Lao/MEEV