ATM scam hits hundreds of customers in Kuwait

More than 400 people have reportedly had their accounts hacked in an automatic teller machine scam in Kuwait City.

Majority of the 428 victims had used the same machine in Salmiya but only became aware that money had been taken from their accounts weeks later, Kuwait Times reported, citing Arabic daily Al Qabas.

Investigators have not disclosed how much money was stolen.

They said security footage showed a small scanning device had been attached to the ATM, which enabled the hackers to scan the card information and personal identification number (PIN) of the victims.

The information was then sent to the Dominican Republic, where is believed a fellow scammer used the details to create fake cards and withdraw money from ATMs in the Caribbean country.

The hackers are believed to include three Bulgarians who were in Kuwait on visit visas but have since left.

Majority of the victims were expats, including from Egypt, Iran, Lebanon and India, and not the country’s wealthy citizens.