Slovenian jailed for ‘ATM fraud’

CEBU, Philippines – Another foreigner from a European country was arrested last Thursday night inside a mall in Barangay Luz, Cebu City for allegedly being involved in illegal transactions with the use of ATM cards of other person.

Denis Zadnik, 25, a Slovenian currently staying in Sitio Kawayan, Barangay Sambag II, Cebu City, was the fourth foreigner coming from Europe arrested in Cebu for ATM fraud since September.

Zadnik was arrested by Cebu City Police Office-City Intelligence Branch personnel who received reports on his “suspicious activities” from mall security guards.

Senior Superintendent Romeo Santander, CIB chief, said the security guards had already been watching Zadnik for two months already after they noticed that Zadnik always goes inside the mall and would transfer from one boutique to other buying different items with the use of ATM cards.

Santander said the guards became suspicious when the boutiques where the foreigner bought some items learned that Zadnik used different names in introducing himself or when showing his identification card.

Santander said security personnel also noticed Zadnik doing transactions in different ATM machines, as captured by the mall’s Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras.

“Mopalit siya sa usa ka boutique gamit ang credit card nga lahi ang pangalan then mag-transact pud siya sa ATM machines gamit ang kini nga credit cards,” said Santander.

The police said Zadnik’s modus operandi was to arrive at the mall every time they were about to close and everyone inside were already very busy preparing to leave.

He said the boutiques already complained to mall management about his suspicious activities, which was why when the security guards saw Zadnik again at around 9 p.m. the other day, they immediately called for police assistance.

Santander said that when they invited Zadnik to their office for interrogation, the foreigner allegedly refused and tried to resist, prompting them and the security guards to subdue him and bring him to the  to the CIB office.

When the policemen frisked Zadnik, they found 28 credit cards in his pocket, with a few under his name but with two under that of another person.

Santander said that during interrogation, Zadnik admitted that some of credit cards were not his.

Santander said they will check the ATM cards and see if the name reflected there really has an account with that particular bank.

“Ato pud na nga tan-awon kung gi-manufacture ba na diri ang card o naa ba silay machine nga gigamit para makahimo ana,” said Santander.

He said they will likewise verify if the confiscated Philippine driver’s license from Zadnik, which showed a Makati City address, is fake or real.

Last September, Romanian Gheorge Stretcu, 32, was arrested for using reward cards from convenience stores to illegally withdraw money from residents of Europe through ATM machines in the Philippines.

Last month, two more Romanian nationals allegedly involved in an international syndicate engaged in illegally withdrawing money from bank accounts of residents abroad were arrested during a police operation in Mandaue City.

Santander said they will also verify if Zadnik was one of the previous arrested foreigners being members of a syndicate based in Europe that hacks bank accounts of Europeans and sends some members to other countries with reportedly weak security in automated teller machines.

A complaint for violation Republic Act 8484 or the Access Devices Regulation Act of 1998 will be filed against Zadnik.  — Ma. Fatima R. Secuya/RHMS (FREEMAN)