Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police has urged all the bank ATM card users to change their PIN code at the earliest in view of potential threats of fraud. 

The police issued the security alert after it was revealed that an international criminal ring was involved in stealing PIN number and password to steal money from ATM booths in Nepal.

CIB arrested three Romanian fraudsters in connection with ATM fraud along with technical equipments used for the purpose and made them public on Monday.

"The arrested criminals have already transmitted Nepal's ATM pin codes among their other international crime partners. Therefore, we advice public to change their ATM pin code at the earliest," said CIB Chief DIG Nawaraj Silwal.

According to CIB data, there are 3.5 million ATM users in Nepal and ATM information of most of them have been compromised. "Earlier, the gang used to steal ATM PIN from foreign countries and cash it in Nepal. But now they have started stealing Nepali people's PIN code and steal the money," said DIG Silwal.

The equipments confiscated from the arrested Romanians include 353 ATMs, hidden camera, forged ATM number keypad, card personalization machine, among others. The police also recovered Rs300,000 and 1000 Euros from the thieves.

The felons used to extract money out of ATMs placed at tourist areas in Kathmandu like Durbarmarg, Thamel, and Basantapur.