Cyber crime: ATM scamming fraud suspect arrested

Suspect allegedly stole ATM data and prepared counterfeit debit cards

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has arrested a man who would allegedly defraud citizens after stealing their ATM card data, through scamming.

FIA cyber crime circle sources said that Muhammad Ashraf, the suspect, used to steal ATM card data through the internet and by scamming devices illegally attached to machines.

After stealing information, the suspect would prepare counterfeit debit cards and fraudulently withdraw cash from the bank accounts of his victims.

The suspect was arrested and produced before Senior Civil Judge-cum-Judicial Magistrate Abdul Ghafoor Kakar, on Monday.

FIA Sub-Inspector Fazal Mabood requested a 10-day physical remand of the suspect for the purpose of investigation, recovery of counterfeit cards, scamming devices, and to ascertain information for the arrest of other suspects.

The court, however, allowed a four-day physical remand of the suspect and directed the FIA officials to produce the suspect before the court again on July 22nd.

Meanwhile, Judicial Magistrate Humayun Dilawar gave a sentence of four years rigorous imprisonment to an accused after he was convicted of robbery. Mudassar Hussain, the convict, will also pay a fine of Rs5,000.

In the case he is unable to pay the fine; he will undergo additional imprisonment for the duration of 15 days.

Hussain was also found guilty for dishonestly receiving stolen property and was imposed a fine of Rs1,000. Failing to pay the fine, he will undergo a five-day imprisonment.

The court also gave the benefit of Section 382-B of CrPC to the convict and ordered that both the sentences will run concurrently. The convict has been sent to Adiala jail to serve out his sentence.

Charges against Gul Shah, another accused in the case, were proven to be false and the court ordered the police to set him free.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 19^th, 2016.