While scammers in others countries based on sophisticated ways to rob ATMs, in Manila they use a simple and obviously effective method: they place a metal bar soaked in the pulp of a Jackfruit.
A property of the juice of this fruit (scientific name Artocarpus heterophyllus) is that it is extremely sticky. Explaining how nature can defeat the technology, two Filipino bandits resorted to a metal bar that splashed it with the sticky substance and then placed it inside the ATM.
When someone was trying to withdraw money from the ATM, they stuck to the metal bar inside the machine and the customer believed that the money was not delivered due to a machine failure.
The Manila police spokesman, Inspector Edwin Malabanan, he told AFP (Agence France-Presse) that the fruit juice is very strong glue and that the bandits seemed clever with this idea.
After the disappointed customer left the ATM, the two criminals went and took the money. The police received various related complaints from banks who recorded the losses and based on video CCTV from the video cameras, they were able to arrest one of the two criminals.
There is no indication that this method has been used in other countries or in the world, but as soon as this news is published, more such similar incidents may be recorded. Because no electronic device or tool was used under Philippine law, the thief faces a shorter sentence - six years in prison - compared to the 20 years that would be condemned if he stole with a more sophisticated method.