Fraudsters target ATMs in densely populated areas

JAIPUR: After money worth over Rs 15 lakh was fraudulently withdrawn from bank accounts of over 62 people in the city through ATM cloning, the police suspect fraudster targeted ATM kiosks located in the midst of densely populated areas which are seen heavy footfalls every day.
An official on the condition of anonymity informed TOI that at least six ATMs were compromised with their payment terminals tampered with. "There were 53 cases of ATM fraud in Mahesh Nagar alone, there were three ATMs located on 80-feet-road," the official informed TOI.

The sources said that ATMs which are located inside the bank branch are difficult to tamper with, and hence, the unguarded ATMs which are congested with customers were targeted by the gang.

"As per rules the bank guards should not allow anyone wearing helmet or caps to use the machine, but there unguarded ATMs where nobody cares about security," an official informed TOI, adding that there are centralized security systems in ATMs which raise an alarm anytime somebody tried to tamper with the payment terminal.

A team of Jaipur police is camping in New Delhi to track the where about of the fraudsters who planted the malicious card reader devises on the ATMs.

The ATM cloning fraud was first reported from Mahesh Nagar area on Sunday where 38 people filed complaints. The figure in the area jumped to 52 on Tuesday. "The money was withdrawn on Sunday and Monday. All victims had swiped their cards between February 10 and 11," police said.

DCP (Jaipur south) Vikas Pathak told TOI that in Jawahar Circle police station five victims alleged that money was fraudulently withdrawn from their accounts. All of them had lastweekusedone particular ATM located in Durgapura area. Two incidents have been reported from Bajaj Nagar police station.