The West Jakarta Metro Police have apprehended a syndicate\nspecialising in ATM theft using a \u2018jamming\u2019 method. Four perpetrators\nwere arrested after executing a scheme that involved trapping victims by\nusing toothpicks to obstruct ATM card slots.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe suspects belong to an organised syndicate. Some members monitor\nthe area from the outside, while two others remain on standby at the\nATM. The role of the two individuals at the ATM is to first obstruct the\ncard slot using a toothpick,\u201d stated West Jakarta Police Chief, Kombes\nNasrimadi, during a press conference at the West Jakarta Police\nHeadquarters on Tuesday (1\/9\/2026).<\/p>\n
In this case, the police arrested four suspects identified by the\ninitials FR, AP, AF, and TH, each performing a specific role. \u201cThe first\nrole is to assist in swapping the card at the ATM. The second role is to\nobserve, monitor, and memorise the victim\u2019s ATM PIN. The third role is\nto monitor the external situation. The fourth acts as a driver to\nfacilitate rapid movement from one ATM to another to drain the victim\u2019s\nfunds,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n
Nasrimadi explained that the perpetrators were highly organised. The\nmodus operandi began by inserting a toothpick into the ATM card slot,\npreventing the victim\u2019s card from being inserted properly.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen the victim becomes confused, one of the perpetrators\napproaches, pretending to offer assistance, saying, \u2018What is the\nproblem, Ma\u2019am\/Sir? Why won\u2019t the card go in? Let me help you,\u2019\u201d he\nsaid.<\/p>\n
In this situation, unsuspecting victims would hand their ATM cards to\nthe perpetrator. In a split second, the perpetrator would swap the\ngenuine card for a fake one. \u201cThe perpetrator quickly replaces the card;\nthe original is kept by the perpetrator, while the victim is left with\nthe fake card. After the victim attempts to use the fake card, another\nmember of the syndicate specifically watches to observe the victim\nentering their PIN,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Because the card is fraudulent, the machine typically displays\nmessages such as \u2018Your card cannot be processed\u2019 or \u2018Please contact your\nbank.\u2019 However, the accomplice has already memorised the victim\u2019s PIN.\nOnce the perpetrators obtained the genuine card, they would immediately\nmove to another ATM to drain the account. Since the initial report in\nFebruary, police have calculated the total losses to victims at hundreds\nof millions of rupiah.<\/p>\n
\u201cBased on developments from the suspects, they have carried out this\ncrime twice. We are processing this based on a police report from\nFebruary 2026, with total losses amounting to approximately Rp 205\nmillion,\u201d he concluded.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/police-bust-syndicate-using-toothpicks-to-jam-atms-in-west-jakarta-1788264221", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }