Over 300 bank users victims of ATM scam that saw €90,000 trapped inside cash machines

Three men have been arrested over the “cash trapping” scam, which was carried out at various ATMs connected to an Irish bank in Co Dublin and Co Meath last week.

One of the suspects (31) arrested in south Dublin at the weekend was previously jailed for his role in a €1.5m money-laundering operation for an organised crime gang.

The convicted criminal and the two other suspects were arrested at a bank in the Kilmacud area of Dublin on Friday evening following a garda surveillance operation.

They are expected to be charged with fraud offences following the investigation into “cash trapping” by the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (GNECB) and Dundrum garda station.

The Irish Independent understands that more than 300 bank users were victims of the scam in the space of a week, mostly in the Dublin and surrounding areas. Gardaí said they identified a number of incidents where ATMs were fitted with items known as “cash trapping” devices.

These devices are inserted into ATMs and block users from receiving their cash after making a withdrawal from the machine.

“It is understood approximately €90,000 in cash withdrawals was blocked at various locations in Dublin and Meath in the past week,” a spokeswoman said.

“Once the device, which is crude in nature, is placed on the ATM, a person who attempts to withdraw money from the machine is unable to do so. The cash does not come out and the criminals are then able to get it later.

“Typically they are watching the ATM after they put the device on it as the customers are unable to retrieve the cash they attempted to get.”

The criminal gang used the devices on ATMs connected to one of the main Irish banks, which made the initial criminal complaint to the GNECB.

It followed a large number of customers reporting that money had been withdrawn from their accounts even though the money had not been dispensed by the ATMs.

A major investigation led to Friday’s arrest operation, which is being described as “significant”.

A quantity of cash and a number of “cash trapping” devices were seized as part of this investigation.

The main target of the operation was previously jailed for over four years after he admitted using bogus IDs to open almost 30 bank accounts for an international crime gang which is heavily involved in organised prostitution, as well as thefts and internet scams.

At the time he was living in north Co Dublin.

One female victim, who was on maternity leave, had nearly €10,000 stolen after she was sent a fake text from Revenue saying she was entitled to a refund.

The fraudster used fake Irish and UK driving licences and fake identity cards to set up bank accounts around the country, as well as fake companies. He also tried to apply for a PPS number using a fake identity.

He was identified as a result of high-quality CCTV and his car registration.