Sharp-eyed residents in Nakhon Ratchasima helped police catch two ATM skimming suspects.
Two Russians and a Thai tourist police were arrested while withdrawing cash from an ATM Sunday on suspicion of being involved in stealing THB65 million from their victims’ accounts.
The suspects were identified as Alexi Ivanov, 27; Sergey Peternov, a 38-year-old former Russian police officer and Thai tourist police officer Nontapan Saengsuk, 37.
The Russians accidentally dropped many ATM cards on the ground while withdrawing cash, police said, prompting locals the alert the authorities. The suspects, along with Nontapan, who was waiting nearby in a car, were arrested with THB2.9 millon cash and 354 ATM cards.
Nontapan confessed to the police that the two Russian skimmers hired him to drive them around for an ATM-withdrawal spree and offered him 10 percent of the money. The Russian nationals also told the police most ATM cards belong to victims from more than 50 countries, and only one card belongs to a Thai resident. Both have been living illegally in Thailand since 2011 and are accused of having withdrawn a total of THB65 million from ATMs.
Yesterday authorities performed a search in the suspects’ luxurious apartment located on Sathorn Road and found THB1.5 million in cash, along with 17 hotel key cards and other valuable goods. The police also arrested Alexandra Peternov, wife of Sergey Peternov, and confiscated their passports.
The authorities believe the suspects work with other skimmers residing in Thailand and will expand their investigations, Khaosod and Krob Krua Kao reported.
Spake Zarathustra says
In February 2012 I made an ATM withdrawal near a friend's condo in Thailand, at a machine connected to the exterior of a 7-11 store at the intersection of Jomtien Beach Road and Soi 17 (alley, south of Coconut Beach Condos), in Jomtien Beach, Thailand. (obvious Russian/Slavic neighborhood). Here is the Google Maps link, showing the ATM and 7-11 store location and street view, which I later shared with my Bank (to no apparent avail or interest):
http://goo.gl/maps/z2Ke4
I went back a few weeks later and took pictures of the ATM which still had the wires and camera and no doubt still mining away at other people's money. Probably still in operation more than a year later, huh? For other pics and story go to my FB timeline.