Agents of the Banking and Industrial Police (PBI) belonging to the Secretariat of Citizen Security (SSC) of Mexico City dismantled a trap placed in an automated teller machine (ATM) in the Roma Norte neighborhood, recovering two thousand pesos that had been retained by the fraudulent device. The incident occurred on February 16 at a bank branch located on Alvaro Obregón Avenue, at the corner of Tonalá Street.
A foreign user alerted the authorities after not receiving the bills following a banking transaction. Upon arriving at the scene, PBI agents discovered a strip installed in the ATM to prevent the money from being dispensed, a method commonly used by criminals to commit theft.
The PBI officer used pliers to remove the device and recover the cash, along with the transaction receipt. Once the money was recovered, it was handed over to the owner, who thanked the police officer for the assistance provided before leaving the site, signing the corresponding logbook.
Regarding the method of operation of these types of traps, they are usually placed in the cash dispenser slot, obstructing the exit of the bills and simulating a failure in the ATM. Once the user leaves, the criminals proceed to remove the trap along with the trapped money. Therefore, users are advised to carefully inspect ATMs before using them and, in case of any anomaly, to seek help immediately instead of moving away.
