Investigators have identified two Bulgarian nationals as the accused in the Colaba Axis Bank ATM fraud case in which a skimming device and a hidden camera was used to steal data and later withdraw `15.48 lakhs from Indian accounts. The money was traced to Greece and the withdrawal was made form the accounts of 40 people, which includes 14 policemen from Maharashtra. Both the accused have, however, fled the country, confirmed police sources.
A police officer on Sunday told this newspaper, “While going through the CCTV feeds of the DGP office Axis Bank ATM booth we found that two foreign nationals were behind stealing the ATM card data. They first came in the booth on April 6 to fit the skimmer and hidden camera in the machine. On April 12 they came once again to remove it. Then they came for a third time on April 13 and fitted data copying devices. They then took down this device on April 19. On the last visit, their faces were captured in the CCTV cameras despite one of them wearing a cap.”
The police then checked the details of the foreign nationals who stayed in south Mumbai’s hotels during this period (April 6 to April 19).
“While checking we learnt that both the accused stayed in a hotel located in Colaba. We identified them after showing their pictures, which were captured in the ATM’s CCTV camera, to the hotel staff. From the hotel we got their names, passport and visa details. They were on a tourist visa in India and checked out from the hotel on April 19 and fled to Bulgaria the same day,” the officer said.
DCP Ravindra Shisve confirmed, “We have identified the accused but at this stage, I can not divulge their details in the interest of the investigation.”