Attempted ATM scammers foiled by Abu Dhabi Police

Two European men in their 30s were apprehended after attempting to illegally obtain card details and PIN numbers.

CID officers watched the suspects and found four ATM fraud devices on them at the time of their arrest. Other devices were found in their room at an Abu Dhabi hotel where they were staying. Courtesy Security Media

ABU DHABI // Two men who tried to instal devices, or “skimmers”, into ATM card slots to steal customers’ account details and PIN numbers have been arrested.

The two Eastern European tourists, both aged in their 30s, were arrested after they were spotted acting suspiciously around cash machines.

Abu Dhabi Police said the pair were caught with four of the skimmers, which read card details without alerting the card-holder. More of the devices were found in their hotel room, police said.

Col Rashid Borshid, director of CID at Abu Dhabi Police, urged ATM users to be vigilant and use SMS alert services that advise of withdrawals. People should also regularly change PIN numbers and notify their bank about suspicious transactions, said Col Borshid.