Mankhurd woman loses Rs 19,000 after ATM card is swapped

Alleged accused Parvez Akbar Ali Sheikh; Kismat Ali Barkat Ali Sheikh. Pics/By Special Arrangement

A woman lost Rs 19,000 after two men watched her enter her PIN at an HDFC Bank ATM near Mangal Murti Junction in Mankhurd on August 5. Using sleight of hand, the accused secretly swapped her genuine ATM card with another one while she was completing her transaction.

Card swapped

Unaware of the switch, the victim left believing she still had her card. The fraudsters then used her actual card and PIN to withdraw Rs 19,000 from her account. Upon realising she had been duped, she filed a complaint with the Mankhurd police, who registered a case under Sections 303(2) and 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

Camera trail

The officer said, "With a few initial leads, the team scanned CCTV footage from the area, spotting three suspicious individuals." Further analysis of footage from another ATM where the final transaction took place, along with confidential inputs, helped police trace the suspects.

Duo nabbed

Mankhurd police arrested Parvez Akbar Ali Sheikh, 37, and Kismat Ali Barkat Ali Sheikh, 30. During questioning, police found that the duo had actively participated in the fraud alongside other associates. Police have recovered R8000 of the stolen cash from their possession.

Official Explains

A police officer
"Fraudsters take advantage of the few seconds when a person is completing an ATM transaction to switch cards. The victim may leave believing they have their own card, while fraudster leaves with actual card"