ATM scam

Simeon Stefanov Minchev, Veliko Zhelev Velikov and Plamen Dimitrov Petrov appeared at the Lautoka Magistrates Court Monday.

The alleged incidents occurred at ATM machines between Lautoka to Nadi around the 09 -12 last month.

The first accused Simeon Stefanov Minchev has been further charged with a separate count for the offence of unauthorised access to Restricted Data for using a skimming device at the Bred Bank in Lautoka.

Kaniva News reports customers who had unauthorized transactions on their account as a result of this fraudulent activity will be reimbursed, a statement from Tonga National Reserves Bank said.

Six Chinese nationals are in custody over the alleged scam.

Chief of Intelligence and Investigation, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Henry Brown, confirmed to Fiji Sun.

He said the Chinese were arrested in Lautoka on December 6 after a tip-off.

The Chinese had allegedly withdrawn more than $10,000 (US$5,000) when apprehended and a number of ATM cards were found on them, he said.

He said investigators were now trying to ascertain the origins of the ATM cards and they were liaising with financial institutions.