FIA Initiates Crackdown against ATM Skimmers

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has started crackdown against skimmers who have been targetting ATMs in collaboration with the IT experts of a bank.

According to the FIA, these skimmers have looted more than Rs.1 billion so far.

Two individuals have been arrested by the FIA’s Cyber Crime Wing in this regard recently. The wing acted on the information provided by an officer of the operational department of a bank.

According to the sources, the FIA has identified several gangs engaged in ATM fraud across the country and initiated a massive crackdown against them. The gangs involved in the said scam acquire the services of well-educated but jobless computer experts for skimming.

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Skimming is done by installing devices over the actual ATM machines. A card reader is installed over the ATM card slots to capture the card data, which is then replicated on counterfeit cards. A micro camera is installed above the ATM keyboard to capture the pin code for getting access to the account.

Skimming Device Found in Rawalpindi Bank ATM:

A bank’s regional head in Rawalpindi has formed a team of IT experts and directed the field staff to be alert and keep regular checks on ATMs.

Upon visiting a bank branch in Rawalpindi, the bank officials discovered skimming devices on their ATM machine. They contacted the local police, who were able to arrest two members of the gang: Tanveer Hussain S/o Muhammad Nawaz from Gujranwala and Ali Ahmed s/o Safdar Ali from Lahore.

They had come to retrieve their skimming devices which they had installed the previous day.

The bank also lodged a complaint with the appropriate forum and informed the FIA cybercrime director.

The cybercrime wing in Islamabad has also recently arrested two skimmers: Waseem Aftab and Adil Saeed, who seem to be senior members of a group.