Zambian police say they have bust a ring of criminals who have allegedly siphoned $4 million from accounts of unsuspecting savers at Automated Teller Machines (ATM) in that country.

Zambian police say foreigners working with local Zambians are suspected of being part of the criminal ring.

Police deputy inspector general, Solomon Jere, told the Zambia Daily mail newspaper “Officers specialised in dealing with cyber crime will soon embark on awareness campaigns to educate members of the public on the vice.”

Jere said the police are concerned that the Zambians involved in the ring have allegedly been working with foreigners said to be specialising in ATM theft.

Jere; however, has not revealed whether any of the criminals have been arrested in connection with the $4 million theft and the banks affected.

He warned the Zambian public to be cautious as criminal elements may attempt to take advantage of the upcoming International Trade Fair and the Agricultural and Commercial Show to steal more from unsuspecting bank customers through ATMs.

Two months ago, the Bankers Association of Zambia warned of increased ATM theft in the country.

In March this year, unknown people tempered with Barclays Bank Zambia ATM control system and fraudulently withdrew large sums of money from one of its branches in Kabwe.