A Colombian national was arrested yesterday as he attempted to withdraw money from a city ATM using a fake ATM card, Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum has confirmed.
Blanhum declined to say how many ATMs were affected by the man’s illegal actions but said that investigators are now trying to ascertain if there is any link to the 120 fake cards which were found recently in a Good Hope, East Coast Demerara home.
Sources say that on Tuesday police would have received reports that an individual was going around to different ATMs and withdrawing money using a fake card. Stabroek News was told that the man was arrested as he was attempting to make an illegal transaction.
Subsequent to his arrest, detective from the Fraud Section, Eve Leary searched the man’s home which is located in the city and found 65 fake red ATM cards and 15 green cards. Just under half a million Guyana dollars and a quantity of foreign currency was found in the home.
The police have been praised for their quick response and success in arresting the man. This newspaper understands that the man would use the cards to withdraw small amounts of money. It would appear that the total that he has so far withdrawn is not a lot.
Based on the information provided, the cards used by the man were made of the same material as the ones found in the East Coast home. The only difference is that coloured plastic was placed over the cards along with a logo and numbers.
Asked yesterday why no one has been charged in connection with the first set of fake cards, Blanhum said the investigations in this regard are ongoing.
