How Did Rajasthan Police Uncover an Interstate Gang Behind ATM Card Fraud?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- 216 ATM cards recovered by police.
- Gang operated across multiple states including Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.
- Victims were deceived through tampered ATMs.
- Police investigation revealed a network of fraud.
- Authorities expect more cases to emerge as the investigation continues.
Jaipur, Sep 9 (NationPress) The Rajasthan Police have made a significant breakthrough in Jaisalmer by dismantling a notorious interstate gang involved in ATM card fraud.
An official stated that the Pokaran police apprehended three members of the Saharanpur-based gang, seizing 216 ATM cards from various banks during the operation. The suspects have confessed to executing numerous fraudulent activities across several states.
Superintendent of Police Abhishek Shivhare revealed that the investigation began on August 17, 2024, after a victim named Magsingh filed a report at the Pokaran police station.
Magsingh recounted that on August 10, while attempting to withdraw cash from an SBI ATM near Pokaran railway station, he noticed some individuals observing his PIN. After a transaction failure, these men pretended to assist him and swapped his ATM card with a counterfeit. Subsequently, Rs 1 lakh was illicitly withdrawn from his account.
In response to this serious matter, police teams were constituted under Additional SP Praveen Kumar and CO Bhawani Singh, while Thanadhikari Chhatar Singh and DCRB in-charge Bhimrao Singh led the investigation utilizing technical surveillance and intelligence.
After tracking the suspects across various states, police arrested three individuals from Uttar Pradesh; the arrested include Ajay Saini, Monty, and Parvesh, all from Saharanpur.
During questioning, the suspects disclosed that they traveled in pairs on motorcycles across several states, including Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Gujarat.
They intentionally tampered with ATMs to induce transaction failures. When unsuspecting customers experienced difficulties, they offered assistance and stealthily swapped the ATM cards. Utilizing the original card and the observed PIN, they later drained funds from the victims’ accounts. The suspects are currently in police custody for further interrogation, and authorities anticipate uncovering additional fraud cases as the investigation progresses.