Bulgarian ATM Skimmer Accused of Stealing up to 40 million Baht

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BANGKOK – Dawod Hamid Aljenabi, 47, a Bulgarian National, has been arrested in Bangkok’s Ratchathewi district on charges of ATM skimming, accused of stealing up to 40 million baht.

Bangkok Police said Mr. Aljenabi, was caught at an ATM Machine in front of the KR Pharmacy shop on Phetchaburi 10 on Monday.

He  was found to have 32 fake electronic cards, 5,500-baht cash and 4,000 euros in his possession. Also seized were a black handbag, a mobile phone, his Bulgarian passport and his ID card.

Pol Col Akaradech Pimolsri, the acting commander of the Crime Suppression Division, told the Bangkok Post that investigators had received a tip-off from Siam Commercial Bank about unusual withdrawals from ATMs at several areas in Bangkok.

On Feb 9, Police were alerted by the Siam Commercial Bank staff, and found Mr. Aljenabi using a fake electronic card to withdraw money from an ATM. They asked to search him and found 32 fake electronic cards hidden in his handbag. The suspect was taken to his room at Citrus Hotel on Soi Sukhumvit 13 in Watthana district where other items were seized.

During questioning, Aljenabi denied all charges. He said he had used the seized cards to withdraw money, but refused to reveal his associates or where he had obtained the cards, said Pol Col Akaradech.

Checks showed the suspect had entered the country on a 90-day tourist visa.

Pol Col Akaradech said the suspect’s use of fake cards involved about 40 million baht. Police would work with the banks concerned to further investigate and arrest others involved. Most of the accounts were linked to banks in France.

Investigators believe the suspect is in collusion with other gang members to steal credit card information by using skimming devices. This was used to make fake cards which were later used to withdraw cash in Thailand, that the gang later changed into euros.

Police have pressed charges of having fake electronic cards with intent to use against Mr.Aljenabi. This crime carries a jail term from one to seven years and or a fine of 20,000 to 140,000 baht.

Meanwhile, Police say they are looking for a foreigner who stole more than 200,000 baht from a currency exchange office in the beach town of Pattaya last night.

According to police, the man entered Rachata Money Exchange off of Pattaya’s Sai Sam Road at around 9 pm yesterday, held the staff at gunpoint while he rummaged through the shop’s money locker, and fled with at least 200,000 baht.