IT Employee and Associate Arrested for Multi-State ATM Card Swapping Racket
In a significant crackdown, a 26-year-old IT company employee and his associate have been arrested by a joint team of the crime branch and Madiaon police in Lucknow for allegedly operating a sophisticated ATM card-swapping racket across multiple states. The arrests were made on Sunday, following a tip-off about suspicious activities near an ATM kiosk.
Details of the Accused and Their Operations
The accused have been identified as Dilshad, aged 26, a resident of Lillapur in Pratapgarh who previously worked with a private IT firm, and Shahban, aged 28, a driver from Madhai Ka Purwa in the same district. They were apprehended near an SBI ATM at the GSI Power House crossing after police received information about two men riding a motorcycle without a number plate, raising suspicions.
During a search, police recovered substantial evidence, including 181 ATM cards from various banks, four forged Aadhaar cards, two Android mobile phones, ₹2,050 in cash, and a motorcycle that was allegedly purchased using money siphoned from victims. Additional DCP (north) Rishabh Runwal confirmed these findings, highlighting the scale of their illicit operations.
Extent of the Fraud and Modus Operandi
During interrogation, the accused reportedly confessed to cheating approximately 110 people of nearly ₹30 lakh over the past three years. Their racket was not confined to Lucknow alone; they allegedly operated in other districts of Uttar Pradesh, as well as in Delhi and Maharashtra, making it a multi-state criminal enterprise.
The duo primarily targeted vulnerable groups, such as women and elderly customers at ATM kiosks. Their modus operandi involved one of them offering assistance to victims in withdrawing cash, discreetly observing the PIN entered, and then swapping the victim's ATM card with a fake or stolen one. The stolen cards were later used to withdraw money from the victims' accounts, causing significant financial losses.
Impact in Lucknow and Police Response
In Lucknow, the fraud cases linked to the accused spanned at least 20 police station areas, including prominent locations like Madiaon, Jankipuram, Para, Chinhat, Alambagh, Naka, and Kaiserbagh. Several complaints of unauthorized withdrawals had been previously registered at Madiaon and Para police stations, indicating a pattern of criminal activity that had gone unchecked for years.
Relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita have been invoked against the accused, both of whom have prior criminal records. Police have stated that further investigation is underway to trace additional victims and possible accomplices, aiming to dismantle the entire network involved in this racket.
Broader Implications and Ongoing Efforts
This arrest underscores the growing sophistication of financial frauds in urban areas and the need for heightened vigilance at ATM kiosks. The involvement of an IT employee highlights how technical knowledge can be misused for criminal activities, posing challenges for law enforcement agencies.
Authorities are urging the public to be cautious while using ATMs and to report any suspicious behavior immediately. The case also points to the importance of inter-state coordination in tackling such crimes, as the accused operated across multiple regions, exploiting gaps in local policing.
As the investigation progresses, police are focusing on recovering more evidence and identifying all individuals connected to this racket to ensure justice for the victims and prevent future incidents of similar nature.
