2 tricksters land in Chandigarh police net

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 6

The UT police have arrested two tricksters, who used to swap ATM cards and withdraw money from the accounts of gullible people in the guise of helping them operate ATMs. The accused had cheated a 70-year-old Dhanas resident of Rs50,000 recently.

The complainant, identified as Sagar Chand, a resident of Milk Colony, visited an ATM booth of HDFC Bank on July 1 to withdraw money. The accused swapped his ATM card and later withdrew Rs50,000 from his account. A case was registered at the Sarangpur police station.

Inspector Lakhbir Singh, SHO of the Sarangpur police station, said surveillance near ATMs was increased after the incident and information about the accused persons was gathered. The accused, identified as Kuldeep Kumar, alias Guddu (29), a resident of Dhanas village, and Rajat (23), a resident of Jhujhar Nagar, Mohali, were later arrested.

The SHO said the accused used to target elderly persons, women and even minors visiting ATMs, who didn’t know how to operate an ATM. They used to ask for the PIN from people and swap their ATM cards. The accused then used to visit another nearby ATM and withdraw money from the victims’ bank accounts.

The police said a total of 15 swapped ATM cards had been recovered from the accused. They were produced in a court, which sent them to remand till September 9.

Modus operandi

Inspector Lakhbir Singh, SHO of the Sarangpur police station, said the accused used to target elderly persons, women and even minors visiting ATM booths, who didn’t know how to operate an ATM. They used to ask for the PIN from people and swap their ATM cards. The accused then used to visit another nearby ATM and withdraw money from the victims’ bank accounts.