New Delhi: The machine did not give the amount to the customer who came to withdraw money from the ATM, the money was deducted from his account and he returned thinking it was a technical fault… But meanwhile, behind the scenes, a game was going on in which the miscreants were stealing the hard-earned money of the customer by laying a web of rubber rings inside the ATM. The Special Staff Team of Central District Police has exposed this unique ATM tampering gang and arrested two accused. During the press conference at Delhi Police Headquarters, Central District DCP Rohit Rajveer Singh said that the arrested accused have been identified as Aman (22), resident of Etah, Uttar Pradesh and Suraj Singh (28), resident of Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh. An illegal country-made pistol, five live cartridges and a Bajaj Pulsar N160 motorcycle have been recovered from their possession.
Goods cleared from fake account in ATM
On the night of 15 September, special staff received information that two accused of tampering with ATM and stealing cash were coming on a motorcycle to Tagore Road area. Based on the information, the police team laid a trap behind the MCD building. At around 11:20 pm, two youths were seen coming on a motorcycle. When the police signaled them to stop, both of them started running but were chased and caught. During the search, a country made pistol and two cartridges were recovered from Suraj while three live cartridges were recovered from Aman. After this, a case was registered under the Arms Act at Kamla Market police station.
Used to make 'cash traps' from rubber rings
During interrogation, the accused allegedly told the complete method of ATM fraud. According to the police, both of them had knowledge of the working of the ATM. Both of them had earlier worked in ATM related work in Hitachi Company. During this time he got information about the working of the machine and its weaknesses. According to the accused, they used to open the ATM machine and put a rubber ring at the place where the cash is dispensed, creating such an obstruction that the amount withdrawn by the customer gets stuck inside the machine. After this, they would switch off the machine and leave from there. The customer would insert the card and enter the PIN, the amount would be deducted from the account but the cash would not come out. The customer would assume it to be a malfunction of the machine and go away from there. After this, the accused would again reach the ATM and with the help of the previously obtained keys, open the machine and take out the cash stuck inside.
The game spread from Gurugram to Delhi
According to the police, the accused have told about committing such incidents in Axis Bank ATMs in Sector-4 and Sector-5 of Gurugram and ICICI Bank ATMs in Kapashera and surrounding areas of Delhi. The police also claimed to have solved a case registered in Gurugram's Sector-5 police station through this action. The inquiry has also revealed 19-20 other ATM incidents. The police is now busy verifying the role of the accused in these cases. Besides, the search is also going on for the absconding third accused associated with this network.
The weapons of the miscreants also exposed
According to the police, Suraj told during interrogation that the absconding accused had given him an illegal weapon and had instructed him to use it and run away if caught or stopped by anyone. The police is now busy supplying weapons and connecting the links of the entire network.
DCP's message – Do not remain silent if money is cut
Central District DCP Rohit Rajveer Singh has appealed to the people using ATM to be cautious. He said that if cash is not dispensed from the ATM, but the amount is deducted from the account, the customer should not consider it as a mere technical glitch and leave the place. In such a situation, immediately inform the bank, the concerned ATM service provider and the police. Confirm the transaction status from the bank and check the message received on mobile. Making a timely complaint can help in investigation and recovery of the money stuck in the ATM. Police appeal: If money is not withdrawn from the ATM but the amount is deducted from the account, then the matter may be serious. Complain immediately and do not return home quietly.