30-Year-Old Yerevan Resident Steals Nearly 7.5 Million Dram from ATMs Using Fake Cards

Recently, the main department of the criminal police received operational information regarding a series of large-scale thefts from ATMs belonging to a foreign bank in Armenia, facilitated through the use of computer technology between 2019 and 2020.

"Based on the operational information received, we undertook extensive operational-investigative measures, collaborating with the bank's relevant service employees. We identified the locations of the ATMs from which funds were stolen using fake banking cards. Continuing our operational-investigative measures, we obtained operational data regarding an individual suspected of committing these thefts. We confirmed the suspect's identity and also received information about which ATM he attempted to make a withdrawal from on August 13," said Senior Operative Officer Tigran Papazyan of the Criminal Police Department.

On August 13, staff from the main department of criminal police caught the man during an attempted cash withdrawal and took him into custody. A personal search of the 30-year-old Yerevan resident revealed three forged plastic cards and cash.

Evidence indicates that during July and August, he managed to steal around 7.5 million dram from the specified bank's ATMs using fake plastic cards. It was also discovered that the cards were made using computer technology in the USA and brought to Armenia, where he inserted them into ATMs and collected corresponding PIN codes to withdraw various amounts of cash.

“A criminal case has been initiated in the main department of the criminal police, under the first part of the third paragraph of Article 181 of the RA Criminal Code, which pertains to theft committed using computer technology in particularly large amounts,” added Senior Operative Officer Tigran Papazyan. The initiated criminal case has been forwarded to the investigative committee for preliminary investigation. The 30-year-old Yerevan resident has been arrested, and the investigation is ongoing.