Auckland Man Sentenced For Smuggling Card-Skimming Equipment
A Customs investigation has resulted in the sentencing of a 21-year-old Auckland man to six months' community detention and 12 months' supervision for smuggling card-skimming equipment.
The defendant appeared in the Auckland District Court yesterday (4 June 2025) and was convicted for knowingly importing goods for dishonest purposes under the Customs and Excise Act 2018 and possessing goods designed with intent to facilitate the commission of crimes involving dishonesty under the Crimes Act 1961.
This sentencing concludes a case in which a second man, also a 21-year-old from Auckland, was sentenced in the Auckland District Court in November 2024 to 10 months' home detention for the same charges.
Customs officers intercepted an air freight package in April 2023, that hid a card-skimming device sent from the United States.
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Further investigations identified that between March and July 2023, the defendants had smuggled up to 12 packages into New Zealand, which contained ATM card-skimming equipment. This was concealed in low-value electronic goods such as air fryers, used laptops, and TV antennas.
The packages were sent to fictitious names at parcel collection lockers throughout Auckland. The two defendants then targeted ATMs and parking machines, including at a hospital carpark.
A Customs search at the home address of the man sentenced today unveiled evidence including retail rewards cards which held skimmed bank data, and a cash counting machine. Further analysis by Customs Electronic Forensic Investigators identified card-reading software on the man's laptop.
In total NZ$60,477.61 had been successfully withdrawn by the two men, with a further NZ$21,500 of attempted or declined withdrawals.
Chief Customs Officer - Fraud and Prohibition, Nigel Barnes, said Customs takes card-skimming crimes very seriously and is actively investigating and prosecuting the criminal syndicates operating in New Zealand.
'Card-skimming is a financial crime that directly targets unsuspecting New Zealanders going about their daily business, and which causes a lot of stress for victims when they discover their card has been used to withdraw large sums without their knowledge.
'Customs will do our part in stopping these devices getting into New Zealand, and prosecuting those involved in bringing them in,' Mr Barnes says.
Tips to keep yourself safe
Do a quick assessment of an ATM before using it to check that nothing looks tampered with;
Cover the keypad when you're entering a PIN;
If you suspect your card has been skimmed, block your card immediately and contact your bank.
Visit Customs' Border Protect webpage or call Customs on 0800 WE PROTECT (0800 937 768) confidentially, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, if you have information regarding unusual or suspicious activity.
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