Hi-tech ATM fraud busted, 4 arrested

It was on the night of September 17 that employees of a private firm who were entrusted with the job of filling the cash at the ATM machine at Canara Bank ATM in Courtallam noticed a green colour skimmer device at the place where ATM cards are swiped.

They suspected foul play and immediately informed the police. The skimmer device was removed and as they suspected there was a chip camera placed right above the numerical pad of the ATM machine. Skimmer device can record the details of the ATM cards while the chip camera will record the details of the PIN numbers of the card. 

With the details culled out from the devices many duplicate cards can be created and amount can be withdrawn from the bank accounts without the knowledge of the debit card holders. When the investigation begun police checked the CCTV cameras and on the same day, September 17, in the noon when there was no rush in the ATM centre, two men were found fixing the skimmer device and chip camera at the ATM. 

Police carried out a search operation for the accused recorded on the CCTVs. On Saturday night they went to Tiruchy and arrested the kingpin of the fraud gang, Karthikeyan. When he was interrogated he revealed the identities of his aids. Based on the information police arrested Rabeek Simon, Mubarak Ali and Kumar and took them to Courtallam on Sunday morning. 

Police are interrogating the accused about the skimmer device and how did they obtain them. Police are also interrogating them whether they were involved in any such previous incidents of fixing skimmer devices and creating fake ATM cards.