3 foreigners held for ATM fraud

CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga, Philippines – Three foreigners were arrested for withdrawing money using a skimming device from the automated teller machine (ATM) of a bank along MacArthur highway in Barangay San Agustin, San Fernando, Pampanga on Monday. 

Chief Superintendent Aaron Aquino, Central Luzon police director, identified the suspects as Nicaraguan Radu Minodor Sandor, 45; Italian Marcu Bogdan, 26, and Romanian Petro Ioan Uveges, 44, who holds a Hungarian passport bearing the name Balazs Varga.  

Aquino said a skimming device, assorted ATM cards, P339,362.65 in cash and a Toyota Wigo were recovered from the suspects. 

Senior Superintendent Joel Consulta, Pampanga police acting director, said they are coordinating with the Bureau of Immigration to verify the status of the suspects, who may be involved in an international syndicate engaged in ATM fraud.

The suspects also reportedly tried to bribe responding policemen with $50,000.