Swazi Observer

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ATMS FRAUD SYNDICATE ON THE PROWL

By Musa Simelane | 2024-04-28

A new syndicate is pouncing on unsuspecting individuals at auto teller machines (ATMs) accessing card-less services from the various banks and stealing their money through fraudulent means.

The Royal Eswatini Police Service has already sent a warning to members of the public about these wolves in sheep’s skin that are targeting individuals performing card-less transactions.

So far this month, they have swindled a total of E105 000 from different individuals in the kingdom’s main cities. And their modus operandi is to appear as normal, respectable, well-dressed and good Samaritans to whom one would easily let down their guard.

At the opportune moment, using their cunning methods, they memorise their unsuspecting victims’ password and cellphone number in order to sweep clean their money no later than a few minutes. And this formula is proving to be working for them. More than E10 000 is stolen per week.

Police Senior Superintendent Nicholas Jele, who specialises in cybercrimesissued a warning to the nation this week to be extra vigilant when doing anything at ATMs. He said anything to do with withdrawals whether through eWallet, Unayo, Send money and others, drew the attention of these culprits, especially where ATMs were not manned by security personnel.

Jele revealed that there are currently 10 cases under investigation and no one had been arrested yet, but the culprits have already been identified via security cameras.

“They strategically position themselves near the ATM to pick out anyone who seems to be struggling to withdraw money via cardless methods, and then they approach the would-be victim and offer assistance. While providing that make-believe assistance, they quickly memorise the pin and other important information,” explained Jele.

In many cases, the culprits advise the helpless individual to go and find a functioning ATM because the first one had technical problems. While the individual goes around looking for another machine, the culprits do the withdrawal.

Jele said a syndicate cannot be ruled out because withdrawals are sometimes discovered to have happened at other ATMs across town. This demands swiftness in communication with co-culprits.

“Therefore, we are warning the public not to allow themselves to be assisted by any stranger at the ATMs, even if they appear innocent. Rather, they should go into the bank and ask for assistance. If not, then look for an ATM where there is a security guard. Some guards do offer assistance on some challenges faced by users of ATMs,” added the superintendent.

Eswatini Bankers Association’s Chairperson on Fraud Liaison Committee, Sibusiso Mndzebele, when reached for comment said it was important for bank clients to understand how their bank’s ATM worked, and generally how to do card-less transaction.

This will make them less susceptible to the vices of culprits as they will not need any help. He mentioned that one of the golden rules when using the ATM was that no one should be loitering nearby or be so close that they can read one’s phone.

“If for any reason one is struggling to do the transaction, my advice is that they should move to an ATM that is located at their bank’s branch so that they can go inside and get assistance. In most cases those ATMs have security personnel around them,” stated Mndzebele.

However, he also clarified that security guards were not really meant to assist clients, and therefore, said it was better to master how to use the ATM on their own. He also stated that banks will not have a security guard for every ATM, and so it would be wiser for client to first scan the environment for their safety and determine whether it is okay to proceed.

In 2022, Eswatini Police Service Fraud Unit reported that they received a total of 68 cases on cybercrime which amounted to E4.9 million.

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