SYDNEY, 9 FEB, 2010: Sydney fraudsters using fake cards are draining cash from ATMs across Melbourne, Sydney Morning Herald reported.

Detectives said the three NSW men travelled to Victoria on January 21, when they started using fake cards at two bank ATMs in central Melbourne.

The scammers are believed to have a large supply of fake cards complete with PIN and debit card details skimmed from unsuspecting bank users in NSW.

After taking cash from the CBD locations, the fraudsters traversed the greater city, targeting ATMs across Melbourne in Southland, Springvale, Carnegie, Keysborough and Toorak.

They then went back into Melbourne's CBD for more cash on Wednesday night.

Detective Sergeant Greg Baker said the men empty their victims' bank accounts completely and "may spend hours at an ATM using card after card".

“There is nothing obviously suspicious about their activity aside from spending more time than usual at the machine. However, they may do this in blocks," he said.

“There are no Victorian victims at this stage. However, we just don't know whether they have a skimming device in place while they carry out this other work."

Detectives are looking into the possibility the men may be linked to a major NSW crime syndicate specialising in skimming credit and debit card information.

Police have released high-quality security images of the trio.

“We want to ... stop them from continuing to offend or leaving the state but need the assistance of the public to identify those involved," Detective Sergeant Baker said.

“They may be staying in Melbourne with friends or at a hotel and we urge anyone who might know their whereabouts or identity to help us out.”

Police also suspect the men stole two EFTPOS card-readers from retail stores at Westfield Airport West, and a third from a fast food shop in Fawkner.

This method of draining cash from the ATM was popular in Malaysia before the Government introduced chip-based ATM cards.

SMH
Picture from www.smh.com.au