In a major case of ATM fraud, miscreants siphoned off about ₹20 lakh, most of it from two unguarded ATMs in Gariahat in south Kolkata and Mallick Bazar in central Kolkata. At least 76 customers were duped. The fraud was committed by cloning ATM cards. The Kolkata police are yet to make any arrests.
“In the last two days we have received 76 complaints from bank customers that cash has been withdrawn from their accounts by fraudulent means. The two unguarded ATMs belong to Canara Bank (Garihat branch) and Punjab National Bank (Mallick Bazar branch). The miscreants have siphoned off ₹18 to ₹20 lakh by cloning the cards of the customers with skimming devices planted at the ATMs,” said Praveen Tripathi, Joint Commissioner (crime) of Kolkata police.
The police have also received a few complaints regarding some ATMs of Kotak Mahindra Bank and Union Bank of India, he said.
A special investigation team headed by Deputy Commissioner (cyber drime) Santosh Pandey has been formed to probe the case. The Bank Fraud section is also looking into the case.
Mr. Tripathi said that the banks concerned have told the police that the “money will be refunded to the customers within seven to 10 days upon submission of a copy of the FIR or police complaint”.
“We will refund the money to the affected customers upon submission of application and filling up of insurance form. The refunding will be done within a week,” said a senior official of the Garihat branch of Canara bank.