The police have successfully apprehended two gang members, Deepak Kumar Pande and Abhisekh Kumar Singh, who were attempting to flee from the scene after committing an ATM fraud in Puri. Both suspects hail from Bihar and have been in Puri for the past three days. The gang is also linked to several similar cases in Ranchi.
According to the police, the modus operandi involved the suspects applying adhesive to the card slot of ATM machines. They would also place a fake signboard with a mobile number, falsely claiming it was the helpline number of the respective bank. When a customer tried to withdraw money but failed to retrieve their card due to the adhesive, they would call the helpline number. The gang would then use this opportunity to collect the customer’s banking details, including passwords.
Once the customer left the ATM, believing their issue would be resolved, the gang would use a sharp knife to retrieve the card and proceed to withdraw cash.
The police have recovered several items from the accused, including a country-made pistol, a cartridge, 12 ATM cards, three mobile phones, quick-fix adhesive, a knife, and a car. A case has been filed at the Badagada police station, and further investigation is ongoing.
