Inter-provincial ATM Fraud Syndicate Arrested After Operating in 50 Locations
The General Criminal Investigation Directorate (Ditreskrimum) of the East Java Regional Police has apprehended five members of a syndicate specialising in ATM card-trapping theft. This group, consisting of former convicts, is recorded to have carried out operations in more than 50 locations spanning East Java, Central Java, and West Java.
The five arrested individuals played specific roles: DD (42) from Cilegon acted as the executor; MW (45) from Lampung served as a distraction; and AS (42) from Bandung was responsible for observing victims’ PINs. The remaining two suspects, ADS (35) from Sumedang and YA (alias AN) (45) from Lampung, acted as the getaway driver.
AKBP Arbaridi Jumhur, Head of Sub-division III Jatanras of the East Java Regional Police, stated that the arrest of this syndicate began following a report of an ATM tampering incident in Singosari, Malang, on 16 September 2026. The police successfully apprehended the suspects across various regions, including Tangerang, Cikampek, Nagreg, Garut, and Ciamis.
According to Jumhur, the gang specifically targeted ATMs located in minimarkets and motorway rest areas along the route from Banyuwangi to Merak. The highest frequency of incidents was recorded in East Java and Central Java.
Jumber noted that the arrest process was challenging due to the suspects’ widely dispersed residences. He revealed that the syndicate was formed through connections made while serving sentences in prison for similar offences. The group employed sophisticated tactics to evade police, such as avoiding hotels after crimes to prevent detection and instead meeting at pre-arranged rest areas for subsequent operations.
AKP M Fauzi, Head of Unit III Sub-division III Jatanras, explained that the perpetrators used a toothpick to obstruct the ATM card slot. When victims became panicked because their cards were stuck, one perpetrator would pretend to offer assistance while an accomplice queued behind to observe the PIN entry. Once the victim’s card was intercepted, it was swapped with a similar card belonging to the perpetrator, which was then returned to the victim, who remained unaware of the switch.
After successfully swapping the card and memorising the PIN, the perpetrators would proceed to a nearby ATM to withdraw the funds. The amount stolen was significant; in one incident in Probolinggo, the gang managed to steal up to 100 million rupiah. While amounts under 10 million rupiah were typically withdrawn in cash, balances exceeding 20 million rupiah were transferred to various holding accounts, including an account belonging to the unofficial wife of one of the suspects.
The five suspects are currently detained and face charges under Articles 476 or 477 of Law Number 1 of 2023 regarding aggravated theft. They face a maximum prison sentence of nine years.