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Last year around this time, news broke that 3 Mexicans were allegedly caught in the act of credit card fraud. They were going around to Atlantic Bank ATMs around the country, and using stolen credit cards to fraudulently withdraw tens of thousands of dollars. Well, tonight, police have cracked what looks to be another ring of credit card scammers. 

This time, 3 more non-Belizeans are accused of engaging in a similar type of operation. Except, it appears to be a bit more sophisticated. 

The cops intercepted 2 vehicles yesterday in Dangriga, and among the occupants, there were 3 foreigners, a Chilean, a Colombian and a Peruvian.  A search turned up these pieces of equipment. 

The experts tell the cops that these are ATM skimmers - that’s right “skimmers -  a gadget which is placed over the part of the ATM where you would normally put your card.  

Once the device is activated, it tricks the ATM’s computer into releasing money.  

Police told us more at a press briefing today:

ACP Joseph Myvette - Head, NCIB
“On yesterday’s date, sometime around 3:30 p.m., Dangriga Police intercepted 2 vehicles with Mexican license plates. Searches were conducted on those occupants, 3 of whom are foreign nationals: 1 from Chile, 1 from Colombia, and the other from Peru. Those persons were found with a credit card skimmer, and a number of other paraphernalia relating to that including credit cards, and blank credit cards. They are detained at this time, pending investigation.â€￾

Reporter
“Is your investigation showing if the managed to get any monies that they shouldn’t have.â€￾

ACP Joseph Myvette
“At this point in time, they are still being interviewed in relation to the investigation, since it was late yesterday evening that they was found.â€￾

Police are making inquires with Interpol to see if any of these persons are wanted in other countries.

And though police would not share the name of the bank that may have been a victim of credit card fraud, we have seen notices like this one at Scotia Bank ATM’s warning customers not to release their personal information to anyone, and to be on the alert for for criminals engaged in phishing.

Police also say that they’ve encountered cases where it is suspected that fraudsters actually set-up micro-cameras on the ATM itself to record unsuspecting customers entering their personal identification numbers.