Four members of an alleged ATM syndicate were arrested in the Gardens area of Cape Town over the weekend, after they tried to scam a German tourist.

ATM syndicates are notorious for trying to convince tourists that they need a permit to walk on any streets in Cape Town.

Vigilant camera operators saw a group disguised in security uniforms busy scamming the German tourist over the weekend, insisting he needed to swipe his bank card in order to obtain a permit.

Members in the area were alerted and before long the vehicle was spotted. A chase ensued and the syndicate tried to make their getaway, ramming a CID vehicle off the road.

Law Enforcement continued the chase eventually apprehending all 4 suspects, 3 males and 1 female.

Inside the hired vehicle, they found fake numberplates, several card readers and scamming devices, security clothing and a fake security ID, along with several ATM cards.

Members of the private banking sector, an elite ATM crimes unit based in JHB, were immediately alerted, and the police are now investigating.

A common trait by those targeting tourists, is to dress in “official uniforms,” then to inform their victims they are “needing a permit to walk on the street in Cape Town.”

The MMC for Safety and Security JP Smith says most concerning the fact that one of the suspects has already been arrested 3 times in the last 9 years for ATM related crimes.

”A growing trend around the world, we knew we had to do more. Last year we began working closely with the private banking sector and began receiving assistance in this regard, specifically on how to use legislation that ensures these types of charges stick. For the sake of furthering our enforcement in this regard, we need to keep their identity confidential, but already we have professionals within the banking sector we can call upon day or night when the need arises.”

This elite unit often assists the SAPS investigators and the National Prosecuting Authority as well, helping to see justice served on those arrested for their crimes.

Speaking on the efforts of the Mayoral-project, Law Enforcement officers based in Cape Town CBD, Principle Inspector Ricardo Meyer was proud of the members achievements.

“Our Tourism Unit is a very small unit, but we established it specifically to protect our valuable tourism industry for Cape Town, after we noted how many tourists were becoming victims within the CBD area. We try to police the hotspots in the area, offering assistance to our tourists where possible, but when we get intel on known suspects operating in the area or a crime that has just gone down, it’s all hands on deck and all of our members across the Mayoral-project, work together along with our neighbourhood watches and CID’s, to try and bring those responsible to justice.”