Eastern Europeans held in ATM fraud probe

Six eastern Europeans were arrested in a series of raids in Leinster today as part of a major garda investigation into ATM fraud.

A range of equipment was seized including cameras, skimmers, a card-making machine, a large quantity of credit/bank cards and €20,000 in cash during the operation, which was led by the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation.

A Romanian man in his mid 20s was arrested in the Collins Avenue area of Dublin and detained at Clontarf Garda Station before being charged under Section Four of the Criminal Justice Act and appearing before Dublin District Court.

Five people were arrested in Bray, Co Wicklow, and are currently being detained under the same Act at Bray and Shankill Garda Stations.

Three men, all Romanian nationals in their mid 20s, along with two women, a Romanian and a Belorussian, who are both in their mid 20s, are being questioned.

A garda spokesman warned members of the public to be vigilant when withdrawing cash from “hole-in-the-wall” machines.

“An Garda Siochana, along with the major banks and the Irish Payment Services Organisation, wish to take this opportunity to alert the public to be aware when using ATM machines,” he said.

“A number of incidents have occurred throughout the country where unauthorised equipment is affixed to the machine for the purpose of recording card details and PINs, for later use by criminals.

“Any ATM user who notes anything suspicious at an ATM machine is strongly advised to walk away and immediately contact the Gardaí.”