Mumbai: Mira Bhayandar crime branch busts ATM fraud syndicate, arrests 3

Accused arrested by MBVV Police/ Sourced Photo

The Mira Bhayandar Crime Branch busted an ATM fraud syndicate and arrested three persons. The arrested persons have been identified as Shivshankar Ramu Prasad (25), Prince Vinod Jaiswal (28), and Upendra Singh (45), hailing from different states: Jharkhand, Gujarat, and Uttar Pradesh. DCP Avinash Ambure and senior inspector Aviraj Kurade led API Prashant Gangurde and his team. Using technological analysis and CCTV footage, they solved half a dozen cases under the MBVV Commissionerate as well as numerous more in Mumbai's Malad, Kandivali, Borivali, Mahim, Jogeshwari, and Andheri neighbourhoods.

According to sources, the accused stole around Rs 50,000 from a victim under the jurisdiction of the Navghar police in April. The victim's card became trapped in an HDFC bank ATM slot while attempting to withdraw cash. One of the accused, posing as a helper, duped the victim and linked them with an accomplice pretending as a customer service representative. The victim believed the trick and re-entered their PIN, which the accused saw. When the victim was unable to retrieve the card, he was urged to visit the bank and register a complaint. While the victim was away, the culprit used the card to withdraw Rs 50,000 from multiple ATMs.

When the victim discovered the missing card, she filed a complaint with the Navghar police station. An investigation was launched, and footage from the ATM was retrieved. The suspects were arrested in Vapi after conducting a technological analysis of mobile phone data and tower position tracing. During interrogation, the group admitted to the crime and revealed similar offences perpetrated recently in Mumbai.

Elaborating on the modus operandi, the officials said that the arrested persons would manipulate ATMs to trap victims' cards. Under the pretext of assistance, they would issue a forged customer service number, connecting victims to their collaborators. Coaxing victims into disclosing their ATM PIN, they would then instruct them to visit the bank under the guise of registering a complaint and releasing the imprisoned card. They then quickly withdrew money from the victims' accounts using various ATMs.

Another officer confirmed that the accused had been handed over to the Navghar police for further investigation.