A wave of sophisticated ATM card swap frauds targeting users inside secure vestibules has shaken Gurgaon, resulting in significant financial losses for two victims and a narrow escape for a third alert individual. Police have registered separate cases and made one arrest while probing potential connections between the incidents.
Details of the ATM Card Swap Scams
The first reported incident involved Kanchan Gupta, a resident of Peepal Colony in Tajnagar village originally from Bihar's Siwan district. On October 20, Gupta visited a Hitachi ATM at Jamalpur Chowk to withdraw money using his father's Union Bank card. Inside the kiosk, an unknown man engaged him in conversation and managed to swap the ATM card without Gupta's knowledge. The fraud was discovered later when Gupta found that a staggering Rs 1.5 lakh had been siphoned from the account through multiple small transactions. He approached the Jamalpur police chowki on December 28 after his own attempts to trace the fraud failed. The Bilaspur police station subsequently registered a case under sections 305 and 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
In the second case, Mannu Kumar, a Delhi resident from Bijwasan, was deceived at an Axis Bank ATM in Sector 14 on December 9. Kumar was using his employer, Sullavi Kumari's card, while she waited outside. A man inside the vestibule pretended to help, claiming the machine was faulty. During repeated cash withdrawal attempts, the suspect observed Kumar's PIN, swapped the card, and created a distraction. Shortly after Kumar left, Rs 15,000 was withdrawn from the account. A case under the same BNS sections was filed at the Sector 14 police station.
Alert Victim Thwarts Third Attempt, Leads to Arrest
The third incident, which occurred more recently at an SBI ATM in Sector 12, had a different outcome due to the victim's vigilance. Rohtash, a resident of Sector 51 originally from Bhiwani district, grew suspicious when a man inside the kiosk initiated conversation and watched him enter his PIN. When the stranger attempted to replace the ATM card, Rohtash raised an alarm.
His alertness prompted bystanders to chase and apprehend the accused. The captured individual was identified as Sonu, from Kanoh village in Hisar district. Police confirmed that Sonu was assaulted by the public before being handed over to authorities. A case was registered against him at the Sector 14 police station under sections 305 and 318(4) of the BNS.
Police Investigation and Public Advisory
Law enforcement officials are actively investigating all three cases. They are examining CCTV footage from the ATM vestibules, analyzing transaction details, and exploring possible links between the arrested suspect, Sonu, and other individuals involved in the earlier frauds to determine if the incidents are connected.
In light of these events, a senior police officer issued a crucial advisory for citizens. The public is urged to avoid accepting assistance from strangers at ATMs, always shield the keypad while entering their PIN, and immediately contact their bank or the police if they notice any suspicious activity during a transaction.
The Gurgaon police's efforts highlight the ongoing challenge of ATM fraud in urban centers and underscore the importance of personal vigilance when using financial self-service terminals.
