Two men have been arrested in Delhi for running a sophisticated ATM card swapping scam that specifically targeted vulnerable and elderly users, police said on Monday. The accused, Asif (25) and Talib alias Kallu (25), were nabbed on May 23 in Shahdara, using a stolen scooter to move between ATM locations and evade detection.
According to Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Vikram Singh, the duo loitered near ATM kiosks and approached users who seemed confused or elderly. Pretending to assist, one suspect would observe the PIN entered by the victim, while the other would swap the real debit card with a lookalike from their stash of stolen cards.
Once the swap was completed, the suspects would leave the scene and use the real cards to withdraw cash or make purchases.
The operation came to light after a tip-off alerted police that the suspects would be traveling to Shahdara-Maujpur on a scooter stolen from Krishna Nagar in August 2024. A trap was laid at Kardampuri Nala Road, leading to the duo’s arrest.
Police recovered:
26 stolen ATM cards from Asif
15 cards from Talib
The stolen scooter
CCTV evidence from an ATM in Kalyanpuri captured the suspects in action, including PIN spying and card swapping. Another clip from a Burari shoe store showed Asif using a stolen card to buy sportswear.
Both men have extensive criminal histories in Uttar Pradesh. Asif has eight previous cases, including those under the Arms Act and Gangster Act, while Talib has seven prior charges, ranging from theft and robbery to assault.
The police are continuing their investigation and are working to identify other victims of this scam.
