Fraudsters have devised a new trick where they “remove the card reader of an ATM so that the card gets stuck inside the machine when being used by a customer.” Thereafter, the scammers “offer help to the customer by entering their PIN.” When it fails, they ask the victim to lodge a complaint. After the customer leaves, they retrieve the card and withdraw money.
Police said the gang of ATM fraudsters, which was busted on Sunday, were involved in at least 25 similar cases in the past.
In the most recent incident, the assailants “fired shots at a kiosk in Hauz Khas when a passerby caught them red-handed.” The accused have been identified as Vishal Negi (30), Amit Mehra (37), and Vijay Kumar (26).
According to Ankit Chauhan, DCP (South), police received a PCR call on April 19 regarding an attempted break-in at an ATM and gunfire in Gautam Nagar. “A police team rushed to the scene. Witnesses reported two men trying to tamper with the ATM. When confronted by the caller and others, one of the suspects brandished a firearm, shot in the air and fled,” he said.
Police added that they were able to pinpoint the location of one of the accused. “Following a raid, the three were nabbed successfully. Their involvement in several similar incidents in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh was revealed,” he said.
“Negi and Mehra would typically position themselves inside the targeted ATMs, spray painting cameras and tampering with card readers,” explained Chauhan.
“A third member would monitor the happenings outside. When a victim’s card was stuck, the two would pose as customers and swiftly intervene. They would perform transactions before the victim gets alerted or blocks their card. If caught, they would brandish firearms and threaten their victims before fleeing.”
Police said the three accused were remanded to judicial custody. Negi and Mehra were found implicated in seven cases within the city. Further investigations remain underway to verify their involvement in other similar incidents.