Fuel attendant may have stolen card details of more than 69 customers

A Pakistani national who was arrested for stealing information the credit card information of customers and using it over the internet will remain in detention for three more days as more revelations are made.

The suspect, a 24-year-old Pakistani national identified only with the initials, S.F.S who works with a petrol station operating in Lefkosa as a fuel attendant was arrested on Friday, last week.

The suspect was identified at his workplace during an operation carried out by the Financial Crimes Department on the day of his arrest.

The police stated that the cell phone in the possession of the suspect and 10,115 TL and 255 Euro found on him are believed to be related to the crime. 

He was taken to court on charges of violation of the Debit Cards and Credit Cards Act.

Police said they were able to trace his illegal activities from December, 24, 2021 until the day of his arrest.

According to initial report, he is said to have obtained the credit card information of seven different customers without their knowledge and consent at the time of fuel purchase and made over 336 transactions over the internet spending a total of 405.61 USD in the process.

The Police also stated that the suspect was caught with 10,115 TL and 255 Euros.

“This amount may increase. He took pictures of credit card information and slips of many people and different banks.”

The suspect said that when customers coming to the said petrol station took the payment from the credit cards they gave him to pay after buying fuel, he stole credit card information and security passwords without the knowledge and consent of the card holders.

The suspect gave a voluntary statement containing a confession on the same day.

Wide scale investigations revealed that the suspect had pictures of credit card information and slips belonging to many individuals and different banks whose identities could not be determined yet

Police said they have initiated more investigation to identify the 69 people whose credit card information was found on the suspect's mobile phone.

Police stated that it is believed that the amount in question will increase as a result of the suspect's use of the subject credit card information with the same method.  

Stating that the suspect's voluntary statement should be confirmed and refuted, the police also said that there are many statements that need to be taken regarding the issue.  

The suspect was again ordered to remain in detention for another 7 days.