Ranchi police raise alarm over ATM swindlers

Firstly, they would disable some buttons of the ATM and as a customer comes to withdraw money they would offer help to retrieve the money. After they have the PIN from the customer, they discreetly swap the original card with a duplicate one. Later hey would withdraw money from some other ATM using the original card and the PIN.

Ranchi: The police raised alarm over the presence of fraudsters who cheat unsuspecting ATM users, after disabling unguarded telller machines in Jharkhand's capital city.

The gang of cheaters, according to the police, targets villagers who generally would need help while using Automated Teller Machines (ATMs). In the last 15 days, several people were scammed, police said. Addressing the media persons, Yashodhara, DCP (Cyber Crime), Ranchi said the criminals generally operate from an ATMs which do not have a security guard.

Firstly, they would disable some buttons of the ATM and as a customer comes to withdraw money they would offer help to retrieve the money. After they have the PIN from the customer, they discreetly swap the original card with a duplicate one. Later hey would withdraw money from some other ATM using the original card and the PIN.

The officer advised ATM users to be careful and not to handover the ATM card to unknown people. Also, they must not share PIN of their ATM card with anybody.

Users must check everything before using a new ATM, she said, adding one must not seek help from unknown people.

Safeguard PIN while carrying out any transaction through ATMs and inform the concerned bank immediately after losing the card. One must change the PIN frequently, she said.

Press the "Cancel" button after every transaction. The bank customers should also subscribe to SMS alert services of the bank. In case an ATM is tempered with, inform the police.

If an unauthorised deduction of cash is noted, speak to the customer care service of the bank or the bank immediately and block the ATM card.