BANGKOK, Jan 6 -- Two Romanian suspects were detained in the Thai capital for alleged involvement in a transnational counterfeit electronic ATM card syndicate, Central Investigation Bureau deputy chief Pol Maj Gen Panya Mamen told at a press briefing on Thursday.
Vint Danail, 25 and Roatis Sergiu Virgil, 24, were apprehended in Yaowarat, Bangkok’s Chinatown, while using counterfeited electronic data cards to withdraw cash from Thai automated teller machines (ATMs).
Police searched the duo’s hotel room in Bangkok and seized 366 forged ATM cards, cash valued at Bt130,000 (about US$4,300) and a set of electronic devices for storing card data.
The suspects said that the head of the transnational ATM fraud gang was a native of Scotland and that the data stored in cards was skimmed from British victims. The suspects were to receive a 10 per cent share from the withdrawn money.
According to the press briefing, the crimes committed by this syndicate caused losses totaling at least Bt14 million ($467,000).
Initially, the two men were charged with possessing devices for forging electronic bank cards and using forged electronic cards. (MCOT online news)