KATHMANDU, Sept 2: Nepal Police has arrested five Chinese nationals on the charge of hacking bank data and stealing millions of rupees from automated teller machines (ATMs) of various banks in Kathmandu.

Those arrested from Nabil Bank ATM counter at Durbar Marg Saturday night have been identified as Lin Jianmeng, Luo Jialei, and Zhu Liangang. Qiu Yunqing and Chen Bin Bin are also among those arrested Chinese nationals in connection with their involvement in stealing money from ATMs by hacking banking data.

Although the arrested persons have not divulged any further details, police suspect that they may have some Nepali nationals as accomplice in the ATMs fraud. “We are currently investigating further into the case to know about their modus operandi. Although they have not divulged any details yet, we strongly suspect that they may have some accomplices in Nepal,” said chief of Metropolitan Police Range, Kathmandu SSP Uttam Subedi.

Police have recovered 132 counterfeit Visa cards, 17 genuine visa cards of foreign banks, one card printer, 6 mobile phones, one laptop and one data card from their possession. “The arrested persons are found to have used counterfeit cards to withdraw money from the ATMs of various banks. “Our preliminary investigation has shown that they could withdraw money from any ATM by hacking their switch way,” SSP Subedi further said.

Besides ATM cards, police have also recovered a huge amount of money including some foreign currency from them. Police said they have recovered Rs 12.62 million, US$ 9,108, Chinese yuan 1,191, Cambodian currency 5,000 and 80 Hong Kong dollars.

It is still not known as to how they would take money to China. Police, however, suspect that they would either use Chinese businesspersons in Nepal to take the stolen money to China or send that through informal channel like Hundi. 

Based on a tip off that some individuals of foreign-looks were involved in suspicious activities in ATM booths, a team of police personnel from Metropolitan Police Range, Kathmandu, was mobilized to arrest them for necessary investigation. The police team was able to first arrest one Zhu Liangang when he was withdrawing money from an ATM of Nabil Bank at Durbar Marg. 

In the course of interrogation, the police team recovered 20 counterfeit visa cards. Based on the details provided by Zhu, police then had raided Maya Manor Boutique Hotel at Hattisar and arrested four other Chinese nationals who were trying to escape using the lift.

All the five Chinese had entered Nepal via Tribhuvan International Airport on Friday. It is learnt during investigation that they were planning to fly back home on Monday. Preliminary investigation has shown that they have a modus operandi to steal money through ATMs, taking opportunity of “quiet time” during public holidays.

 
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