Be vigilant after taking cash from ATMs

Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi's CID chief has warned residents to be cautious after withdrawing huge sums of money from banks.

"Be extremely cautious after you withdraw money from banks and Automated Teller Machines (ATMs). Especially if you are withdrawing colossal sums of money", Colonel Maktoum Ali Al Sharifi, head of Abu Dhabi's Criminal Investigation department (CID) at Abu Dhabi police told Gulf News.

"People should not be naïve. Yes, the UAE is a relatively very safe and secure country enjoying low crime rate.

"However, this should not be taken for granted by the residents. They must be vigilant and mindful about protecting their belongings," he said.

Colonel Al Sharifi said that in recent years cases of victimising people coming out of banks have gone up significantly.

The situation is now under control, to a certain extent, after several such cases were solved successfully by the police and the culprits were booked into custody, he said.

But, in most cases, the theft occurred due to the negligence and lack of presence of mind of the victims, he explained.

Last year, the police initiated an awareness campaign which helped bring down the number of such thefts.

Interestingly, often the same ploy was used by different criminals to rob people across the different emirates.

Detailing a common ploy used by thieves to defraud bank customers out of their money, Colonel Al Sharifi said: "These criminals, often gangs, watch banks and their customers closely. When they spot someone who withdraws considerable sum of money, they follow the person to his/her car."

"When the person keeps the money in the car and gets in, one of the criminals knock on the window of the car.

"The criminal tells the person that the car's tyre is flat or that there is someone underneath the car or so. Soon as the victim is distracted, another criminal takes the money from the other side of the car and flees the scene even before the victim realises what has happened."

Most recently, an Indian businessman was robbed of Dh100,000 in the same way, he added

On September 10, last year, the flat tyre plot was used to steal Dh120,000 from a Palestinian national Saeed Abu Layla after he withdrew cash from Dubai Islamic Bank's ATM on Salaam Street.

More sophisticated criminal gangs use technology to aid robbery.

"Months ago, a European criminal gang, installed skimmers on ATM's. When unsuspecting bank customers put their cards into the ATM, the criminals collected their bank card information and used it to withdraw money from their account," he said, adding that all the gang members were arrested later.

Have you ever been a victim of credit card fraud? What happened? Have you had a problem with depositing or withdrawing money from the ATM?

ATMs of which bank in this country provides AED50,000/100,000 as withdrawals? The average maximum most of the banks provide for withdrawal in 24 hrs is Dh20,000-25,000 (that too for priority banking customers).Nonetheless, Police advise is very valuable to keep our hard earned money with us.
Rakesh Menon
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: October 03, 2009, 18:02

In my opinion there should be a certain limit for maximum amount withdrawn from the ATMs, it should be uniformed among all the banks in UAE.
Razi
Dubai,UAE
Posted: October 03, 2009, 17:23

Withdrawing huge amounts of cash from ATM is not advisable. However, if necessary, people should only withdraw money from banks as you would come to know if anyone is near you. Withdrawing from busy places will only increase the chances of you getting robbed. Banks should also try to ensure the ATMs are well lit. The ATM near National Paints is so crowded that people can easily see your transaction and also not that well lit because of which it is dangerous. Better to be safe than sorry...
Karthik N.
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: October 03, 2009, 16:31

Some Tips in withdrawing huge amount of money: Better to withdraw during day time. Assess the surrounding during night time when using ATM's. Bring someone whom you can trust.
Ronnie
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: October 03, 2009, 16:23

I am glad that some banks in the UAE allows you to withdraw only Dh8,000 per day.
Mark
Dubai,UAE
Posted: October 03, 2009, 16:12

maximum amount that can be withdrawn from an ATM is Dh10,000 in a day. How could Dh120,000 be stolen?
TonySoares
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: October 03, 2009, 15:31

Is there any maximum limit to withdraw cash from ATM card? this will help some extent to reduce this crime. robbers would go for big amount.
N. Perera
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: October 03, 2009, 14:10

Makes me wonder. Who in this age would want to withdraw such a huge sum of money. Are there not better ways to transfer funds, make payments, pay creditors? Like online transfers, bank drafts or cheques.
Vik
Toronto,Canada
Posted: October 03, 2009, 12:53

Well I agree people should be aware but find it incorrect to say "people shouldn't be so naive". When theft has to take place it will take place no matter what the security arrangements! So no one should blame one another. It's just how to work together to bring down crime has to be decided.
Raza Rizvi
Dubai,UAE
Posted: October 03, 2009, 12:50

Its happened last year for my brother in law, he withdraw Dh50,000 from a bank in Sharjah, and went out to his car. Within parking area 100 meters far from he bank, his money and all main travelling family papers inside a diplomatic luggage, when starting to drive his four wheels car, somebody urged him that he had hit another car, he went out and immediately come back to his seat and realize the missing of his worthy luggage.
Elhachimi H.
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: October 03, 2009, 04:42