Four of a gang involved in ATM fraud arrested

NEW DELHI: ATMS across the city continue to be a vulnerable target for robbers, with another case coming to light where four members of a gang of ATM fraudsters have been arrested for duping elderly citizens into revealing their ATM PIN and stealing their hard earned money.

The accused have reportedly withdrawn several crores of rupees and cheated more than 300 people.

According to Deputy Commissioner of Police (South West), Surender Kumar: “We had been receiving multiple complaints of ATM frauds in the district. Several teams were tasked with gathering intelligence on such fraudsters”.

On February 16, specific input was received that two members of the gang would be targeting two ATMS located at Sewak Park, Dwarka Mor to commit another fraud.

A trap was laid at the spot and the two accused, Vikas Jha and Asif, were nabbed from the spot.

Police seized two ATM cards from their possession and managed to track down the two remaining members of the gang, Gopal and Jamil, who were arrested on February 21.

When the gang was interrogated, their involvement in over 300 cases came to the fore.

The accused revealed that they would to target elderly, illiterate and semi-literate persons, women and children who visited ATMS to withdraw money.

The culprits would offer help to the victims for transactions at the ATMS.

However, they would use a fake card, of the same bank as that of the victim’s, and swap it with the original card.

They would then ask the ATM PIN on the pretext of helping them and memorize the number, and would withdraw the money from other ATMS across the city.

“In the past year, they have swindled money to the tune of several crores. The mastermind of the gang, Vikas, disclosed that till date he has made about Rs 35 lakh by committing ATM frauds and has set up a garment manufacturing unit in Kapashera.

Similarly, Jamil has also made about Rs 30 lakh and set up a garment manufacturing unit in Kapashera.

Another accused Gopal used the money to open a shop for selling and purchasing used cars in Chhawla.

The accused persons used these businesses as a cover to improve their social status.

Further investigation is underway to apprehend the remaining accused.