Fraudsters to block new ATM technology in court

By MARK MUTAHI

Fearing a loss of livelihood, ATM fraudsters are planning to file a suit at the high court to block the adoption of new ATM card technology.

The fraudsters claim that if the new ATM card technology is rolled out as planned, they will no longer be able to steal confidential ATM card information, which they use to siphon money out of their victims’ bank accounts.

“Since when did withdrawing money that does not belong to us become a crime? We will not take this attempt at denying us a livelihood lying down, and we will fight to the bitter end!” the fraudsters are reported to have said at a meeting held at a backstreet city hotel.

Business tourists

The source went on to add that the fraudsters warned that with the adoption of the new ATM card technology, Kenya will record a decline in tourists, particularly from Eastern Europe especially those ‘business tourists’, whose sole purpose is to engage in ATM fraud.

“These sort of tourists also stay in our local hotels and other hospitality establishments so you can kiss that business goodbye if you introduce this technology,” the ATM fraudsters warned.

The fraudsters also pointed out that Kenya’s status as a leading tourist destination will drop in the rankings since a lot of those ‘business tourists’ will now go elsewhere.

At the meeting, it is reported that the ATM fraudsters resolved to go to court and that if their plea is not granted, they will lobby the government to delay the adoption of new chip technology until such a time that the fraudsters have figured out a way to compromise the new system. They also sought to propose to the government to give them grants through Uwezo Fund to help them buy sophisticated thieving equipment.

Before the meeting could come up with a focused agenda, it is believed the fraudsters who were in two camps (foreigners and locals) agreed to put their differences aside and work together. Sharp differences had emerged with the locals accusing the foreigners of being too greedy. They blamed them for the drive by financial institutions to change the ATM card technology to one that is less prone to fraud.

Siphoned

“If they had controlled their greed and only siphoned little amounts that were not noticeable, this fraud would not have been detected. But they siphoned money off like it grows on trees. They should know ours is a developing country and everyone, banks included, is struggling,” the local fraudsters had complained of their foreign counterparts.

By the time of going to press, our source revealed that the fraudsters had already been alerted that details of their secret meeting had been leaked. This caused some to hit the roof since they were angered by the fact that their right to exploit another body’s or another person’s confidential information for personal gain, material or otherwise, was being abused with impunity.

“We are the ones supposed to steal other people‘s confidential information not the other way round,” the fraudsters are quoted as having complained. “What’s come over the world? You can‘t trust anyone anymore!”