Police Operation in Plovdiv Uncovers International Skimming Scheme

A sudden police operation has uncovered an international bank card skimming scheme, leading to the arrest of three individuals in Plovdiv and other cities. The large-scale operation, coordinated by officers from the "Economic Police" department in Plovdiv, has shaken the country's financial crime underworld, revealing the depth of criminal networks operating within Bulgaria.

The investigation began late last year when a tip was received by the economic police, which started the whole chain of events. According to the information, devices for copying data from payment instruments were being sent via a courier company. The clever part of the scheme was that the bank card readers, known as "skimmers", were masterfully disguised within the body of a laptop, with their final destination being abroad. This approach highlights the ingenuity of criminals who are constantly looking for new ways to evade law enforcement.

After months of meticulous investigation and evidence gathering, the District Prosecutor's Office has issued an indictment against the three detainees. According to investigators, a 46-year-old woman who was the sender of the packages had maintained contact with an international criminal group specializing in bank card skimming. This group operated outside Bulgaria, which further complicates the work of local authorities and underscores the transnational nature of the crime. The woman was detained on Thursday, which was a key moment in unraveling the scheme.

After the main suspect was arrested, the investigation turned to the other participants. With the help of their colleagues from Dobrich, police detained two local residents who are alleged to be involved in the criminal activity. They are a 52-year-old man and a 43-year-old woman. Immediate searches were conducted of a car and private addresses in Dobrich and Sozopol. During the searches, numerous skimming devices and their components were discovered. Among the seized material evidence were also mobile phones, a laptop, a sum of money, and a waybill for a previous shipment.

The police's actions demonstrate a high degree of coordination between different regional structures of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, which is essential in the fight against organized crime. By order of the supervising district prosecutor, the three suspects have been charged and detained for up to 72 hours. The work on the case continues in the "Economic Police" department with the aim of fully documenting the crime, establishing the involvement of other persons, and tracing the origin of the discovered skimming devices. Investigators are firmly determined to see the unraveling of the network through to the end to ensure justice and prevent future financial fraud.