Gang offers help to senior citizens at isolated ATMs across Hyderabad and other areas, swaps debit cards to empty accounts
The Ameenpur police have arrested six members of an interstate gang that allegedly preyed on elderly and unsuspecting ATM users by swapping their debit cards
The Ameenpur police have arrested six members of an interstate gang that allegedly preyed on elderly and unsuspecting ATM users by swapping their debit cards before emptying their bank accounts. Police seized 130 ATM cards, two point-of-sale (POS) swipe machines, three autorickshaws, five mobile phones and ₹27,230 in cash from the accused. The case came to light after a complaint was lodged on July 29 by a man who alleged that while attempting to withdraw cash from an SBI ATM at Kistareddypet on July 27, two strangers offered to help him operate the machine.
They allegedly took his ATM card, asked for his PIN and, without his knowledge, replaced it with another card. The next day, he discovered that ₹65,400 had been withdrawn from his account. Accused between 19 and 28 years The arrested accused have been identified as 19-year-old Shahjad alias Sazza, 25-year-old Ajrudeen, 25-year-old Mohammad Vasim, 28-year-old Sakib, 25-year-old Mohammad Asfak Khan, and 20-year-old Mohammad Jafar. Two others, Sohil and Mubarak, are absconding. The accused are natives of Rajasthan and Haryana, with some currently residing in Jeedimetla.
Modus operandi According to the police, the gang would wait at relatively isolated ATM kiosks and target senior citizens and first-time users. Pretending to assist them with cash withdrawals, they would discreetly memorise the victims’ PINs and swap their ATM cards with similar-looking ones. The stolen cards were then used to withdraw cash from ATMs and make purchases through POS machines before the victims realised they had been cheated. Offences across multiple districts Investigators said the gang was involved in similar offences across Hyderabad, Cyberabad, neighbouring districts and Haryana.
During interrogation, the accused allegedly confessed to spending a portion of the stolen money on personal expenses. Eight associates left Hyderabad The police said the investigation also revealed that eight other associates from Haryana had earlier travelled to Hyderabad and carried out similar offences before leaving the city.
The BriefWire