KARACHI: Two Chinese men were caught red-handed by police in Karachi while trying to install skimmers in a local bank ATM, Samaa reported. The recent arrest sent a shock wave among citizens using debit and credit cards. According to officials, the arrested foreigners were seen suspiciously doing the rounds of an ATM booth on Karachi’s...

The recent arrest sent a shock wave among citizens using debit and credit cards.

According to officials, the arrested foreigners were seen suspiciously doing the rounds of an ATM booth on Karachi's Abdullah Haroon Road in Sadar area for the past three days.

They were caught when bank staff informed Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) that the men have installed skimmers in the ATM, SP Sadar Tauqeer Naeem told reporters.

Citizens took hold of the suspects and handed them over to police. ATM skimming devices were recovered from both the suspects.

In 2016, FIA arrested a Chinese national for stealing data from a private bank with skimming devices at one of its ATM. Two others were arrested last year and sent to jail.

In the wake of recent such incidents to ATM scam, which affected hundreds of debit card users in Pakistan, FIA apprehended several suspects in countrywide crackdown.

The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has also issued guidelines, directing banks to develop infrastructure for EMV (Europay Mastercard Visa) Compliance and issue cards under it by June 30, 2018 to enhance cybersecurity. - Samaa