43 robbed in overseas ATM sting

43 robbed in overseas ATM sting

Police are warning people not to use ATMs at bank branches in All Seasons Place while they investigate a string of complaints that the machines have been rigged by criminals to steal money from users.

A total of 43 people have alerted police after finding money had been withdrawn from their accounts shortly after they used the automated teller machines at All Seasons and the nearby Rolex building, both on Witthayu Road.

An initial investigation has found users' bank account information might have been skimmed and the money withdrawn in Ukraine, Lumpini police officer Decha Phromsuwan said yesterday.

One of the victims, Phakamat Withitham, said she was contacted by Siam Commercial (SCB) and Bangkok banks after 30,000 baht was withdrawn from two of her bank accounts through ATMs in Ukraine on Wednesday.

Both accounts had been opened at branches in All Seasons Place.

Five customers from SCB  _ one of the five affected banks _ have lost a total of about 100,000 baht after their cards were skimmed by a device hidden on machines at the Witthayu Road branch, SCB executive vice-president Pongsit Chaichutpornsu said.

Criminals usually install skimming devices inside card slots of some ATMs in order to obtain card information, he said. Cameras are often also installed by these criminals to record users' PIN information.

``The best way for bank customers to protect themselves is to use their hand to cover the numbers they enter them,'' Mr Pongsit said. ``This will help prevent criminals from obtaining their passwords.''

Bank customers are also advised to register for SMS notifications when account transactions are made.

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