Law enforcement dismantles organized bank card counterfeit ring
Police in Lisbon, Portugal (PJ) announced the arrest of ten individuals suspected of involvement in a criminal association engaged in counterfeiting, fraudulent card usage, and money laundering. The investigation, initiated in February 2024 by Sociedade Interbancária de Serviços (SIBS), began after identifying anomalous behavior in the ATM network.
Between December 2023 and January 2024, multiple bank cards issued by national banking institutions were compromised in ATMs across the country. In the Greater Lisbon region, authorities reported unauthorized debit transactions on the accounts of cloned card holders, resulting in financial losses of €450,000 and attempted transactions totaling €900,000.
The PJ stated that the suspects utilized an organized network to extract funds acquired illegally through the international banking system and were implicated in a case of money laundering generated by computer scams on an international scale. This particular process was addressed separately.
The detainees, aged between 21 and 54, will appear before the Central Criminal Investigation Court of Lisbon to face coercive measures. The PJ explained that skimming devices, used to read and store card data, are often hidden in ATM terminals. Skimming can also occur in commercial establishments like bars, restaurants, and gas stations, emphasizing the importance of maintaining control over payment cards.
To avoid skimming and similar crimes, the PJ recommended inspecting payment terminals before use, covering the PIN while entering it, using ATMs placed in secure zones, monitoring account activity, and promptly reporting any suspicious devices or transactions to the bank or authorities.
Technology played a significant role in the crime as the suspects utilized skimming devices to read and store card data, a common method used in ATM terminals and commercial establishments. This crime was reported in the general-news section, with a strong link to the crime-and-justice category, as it involved a criminal association suspected of money laundering and international fraudulent card usage.
