ATM fraud is on the rise again with several reported incidents this week as well as two arrests made by the Witbank SAPS. On October 24 a French national who wishes not to be named was at a local garage to draw money when an unknown suspect distracted him at the ATM.
The suspect apparently approached him to offer his help and while he was entering his pin the suspect apparently distracted the man. According to the victim’s friend who is a resident in South African his English is not very good and the fraudster took advantage of that. He apparently told the victim to wait at the ATM for the money as it takes a few minutes to release the cash in the mean while the suspect left with his bank card and about R3000 that he managed to draw under his nose. The victim immediately phoned his bank in France to stop the card.
A picture taken by the community of the arrest on October 25.
His friend who he was visiting in South Africa went with him to the ATM but was waiting outside the garage talking to someone else. By the time the victim had told him what happened the thieves had already escaped in an alleged Blue Toyota. A witness saw him get into the car with two other men.
“It is the same in France, and Germany and where ever you go it is the same,” the resident who spoke on the victim’s behalf as he had already returned home.
It should be noted that they don’t always get away. The Witbank SAPS made two arrests recently for similar cases.
The police made an arrest and linked the suspect to a case that was opened on 23 October. Thieves apparently rig ATM machines to make it look like a person’s card gets swallowed by the machine. This happened to the Victim when he tried to draw money at about 6:30 that same day. The suspect who was close by offered to stay there until the bank opened to report it. The victim agreed but when he returned later that day a large sum of money was drawn from his account. The suspect was arrested by the community at KG Mall on October 25.
Another incident also occurred on October 23 in the afternoon. This incident took place at an ATM in Reyno Ridge and involved two suspects.
”These guys operate as a syndicate and other syndicates operate in a different manner,” said Sgt David Ratau regarding that the fight is not over yet. He warns the community to be vigilant at ATM machines. “If you suspect there to be something wrong with the machine never leave your card alone but make the phone call to block the card immediately,” adds Sgt Ratau.
