Pune: Fraudsters stole data and debit card PINs of 30 customers of a public sector bank's Pashan branch by using skimming devices and withdrew Rs 4.5 lakh from their accounts.
The fraud came to light on Tuesday (December 12) when customers started receiving messages of withdrawal of money on their cellphones. "So far, we have registered 30 complaints. Fraudsters have withdrawn Rs 4.5 lakh from these accounts," inspector of Chatushrungi police, Vaishali Galande, said. The branch manager, Mohammed Hussain (41) of Pashan, has also lodged a complaint with the police.
The offence has been registered under sections 419, 420 (cheating), 468 (forgery), 471, 474 (possessing and using as genuine a forged document), 477 (fraudulent cancellation) of the Indian Penal Code and relevant provisions of the Information Technology Act.
Galande added that customers started reporting complaints from Tuesday. "Many claimed that the amounts were withdrawn in two or three transactions," the officer said.
She added the prima facie probe revealed that fraudsters may have attached skimming devices to the ATM near the bank's branch in Pashan. "The suspects may have stolen data and even PINs of customers who used their debit cards between October 15 and 21 at that ATM," Galande said.
The officer added that the suspects made duplicate debit cards with the stolen data and withdrew the money.
