From Russia, with skill to clone ATM cards

Shariful Islam, 33, went to Russia for higher degrees back in 2007. In three years, not only did he earned an engineering degree, but also learned the skill to clone ATM cards and steal money from banks.

That is what he described to the law enforcers after getting caught, after amassing money in the sum of crores, by embezzling others’ ATM cards at the superstore he used to work at in Dhaka.

Criminal Investigation department (CID) declared his arrest this morning, claiming him to be a key man in the recent embezzlement of money in five banks in Dhaka. About 1,500 cloned cards, card-manufacturing machines and other related substance were said to have been seized from his possession.

According to what has been said, Sharif used to work at supershop Swapno at its Banani branch. With a special wristwatch and a little bit of cleverness, he used to clone the ATM cards of the customers and make a copy for himself, which he used to draw money from the ATM booths.

CID says, Sharif uses a Toyota Allion for his personal use and his bank balance was in the sum of crores.

The instruments seized from Shariful. Photo: Muntakim Ibne Salehin

CID special police Superintendent Molla Nazrul Islam said in the briefing, Sharif revealed that he is the son of one Yeazuddin Biswas, from Meherpur’s Gangni. He had flown to Russia and studied mine engineering for three years before coming back to Bangladesh in 2010.

During his stay there, he learned the tricks of cloning ATM card from his roommate Evanovich, a Russian. When he came back to country, he launched himself into cloning ATM cards and embezzling money. He was in jail for 18 months in two related lawsuits back in 2013.

CID senior Assistant Superintendent of Police (Legal and Media Cell) Sharmin Jahan said Sharif said there are at least a 100 people like him operating in Dhaka city.