Four-year 40 million baht crime spree by bank employee using fake ATM cards & motorcycle helmet to withdraw cash, especially targeting foreigners.
CRIME
Bank employee held for ATM theft
9/02/2016
Post Reporters
A bank employee has been arrested for allegedly using fake ATM cards to steal more than 40 million baht in cash.
Direk Kaewcherdchu, a 40 year-old Thai Military Bank (TMB) employee was presented before the media at the Economic Crime Suppression Division yesterday after being arrested in Don Muang district on Saturday morning.
Police confiscated six counterfeit ATM cards, 20,000 baht in cash, a list of ATM passwords and a red Honda Wave motorcycle during the arrest.
The arrest followed an investigation into a complaint filed late last year by the TMB.
The bank said fake ATM cards had been used to steal several hundred thousand baht.
COMPLAINTS BY CUSTOMERS
The bank had received complaints from customers claiming account transactions were being made without their knowledge.
According to investigators, Mr Direk withdrew money from ATM machines in Bangkok's Don Muang and Bang Khen districts as well as Rangsit district, Pathum Thani, on many occasions.
ALWAYS WORE A MOTORCYCLE HELMET
Police said an examination of CCTV footage recovered from various locations revealed the suspect always wore a grey jacket and a motorcycle helmet to conceal his identity when he withdrew money from ATMs.
He would then ride his motorcycle home.
FOREIGNER TARGETS: DON'T CHECK BALANCE
On Saturday, Mr Direk was caught while using a fake card to withdraw cash at a Siam Commercial Bank ATM machine in Soi Lat Pla Khao 76.
Authorities checked with the TMB and found the withdrawn money was from a foreigner's bank account.
The foreigner denied making any financial transaction at the time of the withdrawal.
Mr Direk admitted targeting foreigners because many of them spent large amounts and hardly ever checked for irregularities.
FOUR-YEAR 40 MILLION BAHT CRIME SPREE
Mr Direk had worked for the TMB for more than 10 years.
He would use financial and personal information of bank customers to make ATM cards and then withdraw money from their accounts.
The suspect carried out his crime spree for four years, causing the TMB more than 40 million baht in losses.
Investigators are not convinced Mr Direk was acting alone.
The investigation will be widened to discover whether there were accomplices.