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PANAJI: With rising theft cases by foreigners, mostly east Europeans, rigging Automated Teller Machines (ATM) using advanced technological devices, the Goa police have taken an aggressive stance to arrest the trend.
For starters, those coming forward with information of ATMs rigged with the 'skimming device' will be awarded a thousand rupees by the men-in-uniform. And, if the culprit is caught, the prize money will go up to Rs 5000.
A formal announcement of the reward scheme is expected to be made by the Police Department in a day or two.The Goa police have also prepared a video about the modus operandi used by the fraudsters using a skimming device. This video will be circulated by the police among citizens through social media and other means to raise public awareness, Director General of Police Dr Muktesh Chander told The Goan.
Foreigners mostly from East European countries like Romania, Bulgaria and Hungary have been involved in ATM thefts using sophisticated ATM rigging devices. In one case, culprits from Delhi are also involved in such crimes.
There are Interpol reports that cyber crimes in this region are increasing in both scale and sophistication.
There are around nine cases reported in Goa and some foreigners especially Romanians, Hungarians and Bulgarians are involved in cheating public by installing skimmer devices to the ATM machines. Around 4-5 ATMs of nationalised banks were targeted.
Gathering ATM card details and PIN numbers using the skimmers, 'clone cards' are made and lakhs of rupees are fraudulently withdrawn by the fraudsters.
In September money was withdrawn in such fashion from ATMs in Parsem-Penem area in a total of 40 transactions. Emanoll Prajol and Vasil-Loredan Sipos were the duo arrested by Pernem police from Kolhapur and Rs 7.16 lakhs in cash was recovered from them.
Two Romanians, namely Paul Daniel Vasile and Sareu Emil Constantin, were also arrested in Fatorda in July 2018.
Earlier in February this year, Hungarian nationals Mare Janos and Stan Serban were arrested by Porvorim police for ATM thefts in the fast urbanizing hub. The two were prosecuted and convicted to 5 months simple imprisonment and a fine of Rs. 5000.
In March a Romanian national Alexa Petrica was arrested for theft in an ATM at Panaji. The case has been charge-sheeted and the trial is going on.
Last week, in yet another case, the Panaji police arrested Miroslav Antanov Stanoev for installing skimmers in the bank ATMs.
Police have also taken some steps to avoid such crimes especially with the commencement of the new tourism season and are nabbing the culprits and ensuring the case goes to its logical end.
All police station officers have also been issued instructions to conduct routine checks of ATMs in their jurisdiction. Also, top brass of banks have also been issued an advisory to ensure safety of the ATM machines. Banks have been told to take all precaution and have also been asked to avoid setting up ATMs in secluded locations.
