A 17-year-old youth from Khed taluka in Pune district fell victim to a sophisticated ATM scam, losing Rs 25,900 from his mother's bank account. The incident occurred on Wednesday night at a private bank's ATM kiosk in Moshi, prompting the Bhosari MIDC police to register a cheating case against two unidentified persons.
The Trap at the ATM Kiosk
According to Investigating Officer Digambar Asawale of the Bhosari MIDC police, the teenager visited the ATM on Wednesday night to withdraw cash using his mother's debit card. Upon entering the kiosk, he found another person already inside. As the youth attempted his transaction, his debit card got stuck in the cash-dispensing machine.
Spotting a helpline number displayed on the kiosk wall, the worried teen immediately called it for assistance. The person who answered claimed to be a bank employee and offered to help resolve the issue. The 'bank employee' instructed the youth to enter his PIN into the machine again, a request the teen followed while the other person inside the kiosk stood closely behind him.
How the Fraud Unfolded
Unbeknownst to the victim, the man standing behind him was carefully observing and memorizing the entered PIN. Even after entering the PIN, the machine failed to dispense any cash. At this point, the accomplice inside the kiosk suggested that the youth seek help from a security guard at a neighbouring kiosk, falsely claiming the guard knew how to retrieve stuck cards.
Trusting the stranger's advice, the teenager left his debit card inside the ATM and stepped out. Within mere seconds, he received a debit alert message on his phone, informing him that Rs 25,900 had been withdrawn from his mother's account. He rushed back to the kiosk only to find both the stranger and his debit card missing.
Swift Action and Police Investigation
Reacting quickly to the fraud, the youth immediately contacted his bank and transferred the remaining balance from his mother's account to a different account to prevent further losses. He then approached the Bhosari MIDC police on Thursday to file an official complaint.
Officer Asawale stated that the police are actively investigating the case. The authorities are in the process of obtaining CCTV footage from the bank's ATM kiosk to identify the two fraudsters. A case of cheating has been registered, and a manhunt is underway for the culprits who executed this well-coordinated ATM scam.
This incident serves as a stark reminder for all bank customers to exercise extreme caution at ATMs. Never share your PIN with anyone, be wary of strangers offering unsolicited help, and always cover the keypad while entering your PIN. If your card gets stuck, call the bank's official customer care number from their website or your card, not from any number displayed inside the kiosk.
