Dubai Police arrest man suspected of stealing millions using forged ATM cards

The man allegedly worked with an accomplice abroad to steal account numbers that he affixed to ATM cards and used to withdraw money

Dubai Police arrested a man for allegedly stealing millions of dirhams from customer bank accounts using forged ATM cards.

According to police, the man – of Asian origin - stole bank account numbers of clients living outside of the UAE.

The 30-year-old man allegedly then used the account numbers on forged ATM cards to withdraw money from the accounts. The man was helped by another person outside the country, said Maj Gen Khalil Al Mansouri, assistant to Dubai Police Chief for criminal investigation.

“We received a tip-off about the Asian man who entered the country on a visit visa and rented an apartment in Deira,” police said.

Police raided his residence and seized a laptop, forged credit cards and bank account numbers he was allegedly planning to use on more ATM cards.

“The suspect admitted that he withdrew millions of dirhams from bank customers’ accounts and he was visiting the UAE for the first time,” said Maj Gen Al Mansouri.

He said investigations revealed the suspect had an accomplice abroad who was providing him with the account numbers.

Maj Gen Al Mansouri said police were working with the authorities from the accomplice’s country to extradite him to the UAE.

Maj Gen Abdullah Khalifa Al Marri, Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Police, said “This crime falls within transnational crimes, and Dubai police fight the crime whatever its dimensions.”