by Andrew Carey
GARDAÍ are hunting an Eastern European criminal gang linked to a major international skimming operation that was uncovered in Limerick last week-end.
A major investigation is continuing into attempts to fraudulently obtain thousands of euro from unsuspecting ATM customers after the discovery of a number of sophisticated skimming devices in at least four locations in the city.
AIB in Adare and Raheen as well as PTSB banks in St Nessan’s Road Dooradoyle and William Street are understood to be locations where the card PIN numbers were obtained.
The skimming enterprise is under investigation after gardai discovered devices at the PTSB banks recently.
Gardai at Roxboro are investigating last week-end’s incidents following the discovery of transactions not approved or linked to the card owners.
At least five transactions have been traced to the accounts of Limerick bank customers where upwards of €1,000 worth of debits are pending authorisation from as far as Chicago, New York and Sydney.
Further reports have emerged regarding other suspicious transactions appearing on customer accounts from as far as Thailand and Eastern Europe, but these have not been confirmed and are being investigated by the banks.
Chief Superintendent Dave Sheahan told the Limerick Post that should anyone notice anything suspicious on any ATM, they should immediately contact the gardai and notify the bank associated.
“We are reminding everyone to be very wary of using ATMs and to always check their surroundings. These mini-cameras are placed overhead the keypad and record the PIN number while the device skims the card.”
He said that Gardaí have obtained CCTV footage from the area and are now pursuing a number of persons linked to a Eastern European criminal gang.
Following the detection of a major international skimming operation running from a house in Limerick city two years ago, gardai have been able to monitor the threat posed by such illegal activity.
However this new “sporadic” wave is not thought to be as sophisticated.
Both AIB banks in Limerick where the devices were discovered are investigating similar attempts to trick people following the latest reports of such activity on customer accounts.
The Limerick Post understands that investigators from the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation are working with detectives from the Crime Office at Roxboro Garda Station to locate the operators and owners of the devices.
