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Malaysian national gets 3 years in jail for Australian ATM skimming scam

October 30, 2003

SYDNEY - Malaysian national Kok Meng Ng was sentenced to three years in jail after stealing more than $600,000 from personal bank accounts in Australia's largest ATM fraud case.

According to a report in the Sydney Morning Herald, 29-year-old Ng was arrested on Nov. 16, 2002 for his involvement in the ATM scam which started in 2001. He was charged with nine offenses involving stealing data and exporting stolen money overseas.

The scam involved the use of card skimming devices at 36 ATMs around Sydney. Ng used skimmers to obtain card data and small cameras attached to the machines to obtain ATM users' PINs. He reproduced the bank cards and withdrew money totalling $623,426 ($409,534 U.S.) from the Commonwealth, St George and the Westpac Banks.

Police said the scam, which originated in Malaysia, was the first case of its kind to come before the courts in Australia.

Ng, who funded his illegal stay in Australia with the money, will be eligible for release in April 2005 but will be deported back to Malaysia immediately, according to the Morning Herald.

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