Driver Jailed After Police Nab Fraud Gang Installing Skimmers on Cash Machines
Attaul Qayyum, 22, has been locked up for 15 months for his role in a scam targeting cash machines in Ramsgate. The Morden man was the driver for a gang that secretly fitted card skimming devices in August 2020.
Off-Duty Cop’s Sharp Eye Leads to Arrest
On August 21, 2020, Kent Police were called to a cash machine on Grange Road after users reported their cards being rejected. A quick inspection uncovered a hidden recording device lodged behind a false panel.
CCTV footage showed two men sneaking around the ATM, one keeping watch while the other installed the dodgy gadgets. Later that day, an off-duty policewoman spotted three suspicious men in the same area—two matched the CCTV suspects.
She immediately dialled 911 and tailed their car to a roundabout at St Nicholas-at-Wade on Thanet Way. Police swiftly moved in and arrested the trio, with Qayyum behind the wheel.
Evidence Links Gang to Multiple Scams
Further probes uncovered a similar skim scam earlier that same day on Broadstairs High Street. Items found in the gang’s car included a lost card linked to the fraud.
The other two men pleaded guilty in October 2020 and were jailed for nine and seven months respectively. PC Ellen Green of Kent Police said:
“Qayyum and his associates aimed to cheat the public, who would have faced financial hardship and heartbreak.”
“I want to praise the members of the public who spotted the skimming devices and the off-duty officer who tracked the gang. If you see anything suspicious around cash machines or think you’ve been targeted, report it immediately.”
