NBI-7 Calls On ATM Skimming Victims to Sue Arrested Romanians

The National Bureau of Investigation-Region 7 (NBI-7) on Monday called on the victims of Automated Teller Machines (ATM) card skimming to visit their office and file complaints against the three Romanian nationals arrested earlier by NBI agents.

The NBI-7 said they seized physical evidence from the Romanians, including card reader microchips, laptops and “cloned” ATM cards. The suspects were nabbed inside their condominium unit in Barangay Lahug, Cebu City.

But the NBI said they hoped to gather more documents to build up a stronger case against the suspects.

Retired Cebu City Regional Trial Court Judge Meinrado Paredes, who lost PHP100,000 from his Land Bank of the Philippines account, was the first to submit his affidavit to the NBI on Monday.

Paredes discovered unauthorized withdrawals from his bank account when he tried to withdraw money last March 12 at around 6 p.m. His withdrawal was declined because he had apparently maximized the withdrawal limit for the day, which is set at PHP50,000.

Chief Insp. Ryan Devaras, of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO)-Investigation and Detection Management Bureau (IDMB), also a victim of the skimming, said they still have to determine the exact number of Cebu City policemen who became victims of skimming.

The number of police victims so far recorded by CCPO numbered 10, he said.

Devaras lost his salary amounting to PHP32,000 to skimming.

He said that Land Bank assured the victims they will be refunded of their lost deposits within two to three months. (PNA)BS/EB/EDS