ATM Card Scam in Prayagraj: Fraudsters Withdraw ₹71,050 from Woman’s Account After Card Gets Stuck in Machine

Caution: Don’t disclose your ATM PIN  Number to any person

Prayagraj: A woman fell victim to an ATM fraud in Rajapur after unidentified scammers allegedly trapped her debit card inside a cash machine and later withdrew ₹71,050 from her bank account through multiple transactions.

The incident has once again highlighted the growing menace of ATM-related frauds despite repeated public awareness campaigns.

According to the complaint lodged at Dhoomanganj police station, the victim, Aafiya Khan, stated that her son, Mohammad Faheem Khan, had gone to withdraw cash from an ATM operated by Bank of Baroda in Rajapur. During the transaction, the debit card became stuck inside the machine and could not be retrieved.

While he was attempting to recover the card, a young man standing nearby approached him and offered assistance. The stranger advised him to contact a customer care number that was allegedly displayed near the ATM. Trusting the information, Faheem called the number and explained the problem.

The person on the phone assured him that the card would be released soon. However, despite waiting and making several attempts, the card remained trapped inside the ATM. Eventually, the victim returned home without recovering it.

Later, when the family checked the bank account, they discovered that ₹71,050 had been withdrawn through a series of transactions. Realising they had been deceived, they immediately approached the police and filed a complaint.

During the investigation, police examined CCTV footage from the ATM kiosk and identified three suspects. Officials said that after obtaining the card, the accused allegedly withdrew money from different locations using multiple transactions.

Fraudsters Also Purchased Liquor Using Stolen Funds

Police investigations revealed that the accused first withdrew ₹25,000 from another ATM.

They subsequently carried out transactions worth ₹7,000, ₹5,000 and ₹10,600. Investigators further found that the fraudsters used the stolen money to purchase liquor worth ₹15,450 from a liquor store.

The fraudulent spending came to light after transaction alerts and account statements were examined. Authorities are now tracing the suspects and gathering additional evidence.

According to police officials, preliminary inquiries suggest that the ATM may have been tampered with using a card-trapping device before the victim arrived. Such methods are commonly employed by organised fraudsters who wait for customers to leave before retrieving trapped cards and misusing them.

Two of the identified suspects remain absconding. Police said that one accused has a criminal background and is wanted in several other cases. Investigators are conducting raids to apprehend the remaining suspects and recover the stolen money.

ATM Frauds Continue to Rise

Banking experts caution that incidents involving card cloning, card swapping and card trapping continue to surface from time to time. Fraudsters often target customers who are unfamiliar with ATM security precautions or who seek assistance from strangers.

Authorities have advised citizens never to share ATM card details, PIN numbers or banking information with anyone. Customers should avoid calling unknown numbers displayed near ATMs and should immediately contact the bank’s official helpline in case of any problem.

How to Protect Yourself from ATM Fraud

• Never reveal your ATM PIN or banking credentials to anyone.
• Do not trust phone numbers or instructions displayed suspiciously inside ATM kiosks.
• Contact your bank only through official customer care channels.
• If your card gets stuck, immediately inform the bank and request that the card be blocked.
• Report suspicious activity by calling emergency helplines such as 112 or notifying the nearest police station.
• Stay alert to the behaviour of people loitering around ATM kiosks during transactions.

Police have assured the victim that every effort is being made to track down the accused and recover the defrauded amount.