More than THB1 billion has been siphoned from Thai bank accounts in recent months, according to a police estimate.
ATM skimming, which seems to be a cyclical nuisance, has returned in a big way to the Thai capital, where a series of compromised machines have been found stealing card information from consumers.
This month alone, police discovered hacked ATMs at the All Seasons Place and Rolex Building on Witthayu Road, as well as a CP building in the Phaya Thai district.
The crime usually involves a false reader attached to the front of the ATM’s card slot and a camera placed nearby to capture users’ PIN numbers.
Two Russians and a Thai tourist cop were arrested in Korat last week on suspicion of skimming at least THB65 million after they were found with hundreds of cards.
To protect consumers and restore confidence, Thai banks are considering new technology which replaces the magnetic strip with a microchip within the card. Bangkok Bank is one of the first to adopt the technology, but using it prevents the use of other banks’ ATMs, Khaosod reported.
Photo: Flickr user catatronic
Reader Interactions