Two Romanian nationals living in Sydney have been jailed over a $36,000 ATM card “shimming” scam.
The 34-year-old man and 33-year-old woman installed the shimmers on ATMs across Sydney and Melbourne to clone victims’ financial data.
“ATM shimmers are thin, card-sized metal devices that act like a spacer when inserted into the card slot of an ATM,” Australian Federal Police (AFP) said.
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The pair were caught following a tip-off from the United States Secret Service about a consignment of ATM shimmers sent to Australia.
AFP subsequently launched an investigation in June 2023, and found “a number of suspicious packages” from the UK, China and the US.
“As part of the investigation, the AFP witnessed the Romanian nationals install shimming devices in ATMs in Melbourne and Sydney and attend banks to withdraw or transfer money to bank accounts using stolen card data,” AFP said.
“Criminals will unashamedly use any tools they have available to exploit people for their own greedy profit, at the expense of Australians who are already doing it tough.”
They were arrested after a search on a vehicle rented by the pair and a home in Rhodes in Sydney.
Officers seized $12,935 in cash, multiple shimming devices, false identity documents, electronic devices, card readers, and SIM cards.
The man pleaded guilty to seven related charges on May 1 and was sentenced on Friday to four years and two months’ imprisonment, with a non-parole period of two years and six months.
The woman pleaded guilty to four related charges on May 1 and was sentenced to two years and six months’ imprisonment, with a non-parole period of one year and six months.
She will be eligible for parole on February 3, 2025.
“Both the man and the woman are expected to be deported once released from jail,” AFP said.