New ATM tech to steal bank clients in Sharjah

A number of bank clients who withdrew funds from their accounts through the cash machines in Shrajah were surprised later to find out the sum debited from their account was far more than what they had actually taken.

When they told their banks, they were even more surprised to know that it was not an error or miscalculation by the bank nor was it a fault by the ATM machine.

When they realized that the banks themselves were also baffled by the problem, they decided to report it to the authorities.

Police decided to act after it received numerous reports involving the same methods of theft. After intensive investigation, police managed to unravel the secret of vanishing funds but have yet to arrest those who are behind it.

Newspapers quoted police sources as saying ATM machines themselves have been robbed by unknown persons, using what they described as “advanced technology.”

They explained that it involves miniature devices fixed just near the ATM card slot in the machine to monitor and record all data entered by clients withdrawing money.

After cards used by their owners in the machine are recorded in the device, new cards are made by the thieves carrying the same data to withdraw funds later.

“Police have intensified efforts to identify and arrest persons responsible for stealing bank clients’ funds using advanced technology,” the Sharjah-based Arabic language daily Alkhaleej said.

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