Romanian nabbed in Makati with cloned ATM cards

A Romanian national was arrested for using cloned automated teller machine (ATM) cards, a report on "Unang Balita" by Lia Mañala-Del Castillo said Friday.

The suspect was identified by Makati City Police as Ghiocan Mustafa.

CCTV footage showed Mustafa using several different cards at an ATM.

Bank records showed that the suspect repeatedly attempted to withdraw from their ATM since December 24, the report said.

Police recovered 18 cloned ATM cards for bank accounts in the US and Europe.

"Parang cards sa mga amusement center, meron siyang magnetic strip na andiyan lahat ng information na na-clone nila. Ang system kasi natin dito hindi pa ganoon ka-secure dahil we're still using 'yung magnetic stripe o strip, 'di kagaya dun sa Euro-compliant, through chip na ang ginagamit nila... Isa ito sa vulnerability ng bansa natin," said P/Sr. Insp. Ronald Saquilayan, chief of Makati Ctiy Police's Criminal Investigation Section.

Aside from the cloned ATM cards, P4,900 in cash was recovered from Mustafa.

The suspect arrived in the Philippines on December 18 and was scheduled fly back to Romania, the report said.

Mustafa claimed that a friend gave him the ATM cards, but denied being complicit in any crime.

"I made a mistake that's all," he said.

Mustafa may be charged with violating Republict Act 8484 or the Access Devices Regulation Act of 1998.

Authorities advise the public to always check ATMs and to call their respective banks if they find something suspicious. — Erwin Colcol/TJD, GMA News