In October 2020, the District Court of New Zealand sentenced two defendants involved in card skimming. Card skimming involves illegally recording other people’s bank card information using hidden cameras when card owners are using their cards at ATMs.
The two defendants stole at least $74,000 from their card skimming scheme in two years. One of the defendants laundered nearly $44,000 of the proceeds by exchanging the money for cryptocurrency. Moreover, the defendants were creating their own equipment for future card skimming when the authorities arrested them.
One defendant will serve a prison sentence of two years and five months while the other will serve three years. The Court made its decision considering the defendants’ attitude. Note that the defendants had traveled from Europe to New Zealand to commit their crime because they believed New Zealand to be ‘soft’ on criminals. Thus, the Court refused to allow the defendants any discounts for being in a foreign country or any credit for previous good character. Still, the one defendant who confessed and cooperated with the authorities was given some concession.