The Gajuwaka police arrested Sanjay Ghorai, a 37-year-old man from Parnasree Pally in Kolkata, for allegedly swindling money from ATM users in a deceptive card swapping scheme. Ghorai is accused of stealing Rs6 lakh from the bank accounts of unsuspecting victims who visited ATMs
According to Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), P. Venkata Ratnam, the police received a complaint on July 13 from a woman who had been targeted in the scam. The incident occurred on June 21, when the woman visited an ATM in Gajuwaka to carry out a transaction. When the ATM failed to generate a slip, a man, later identified as Ghorai, offered to assist her. After the interaction, the woman left the ATM, unaware that her ATM card had been swapped by the suspect.
A few days later, the woman discovered that her bank account had been debited of Rs6 lakh in multiple transactions. Upon further investigation, it was revealed that Ghorai had swapped her ATM card during the assistance, and used it to make unauthorized withdrawals in phases.
The police were able to trace and arrest Sanjay Ghorai after reviewing CCTV footage and investigating the details provided by the victim. He has been charged with fraud, theft, and criminal breach of trust. The investigation is ongoing, and the police are working to identify other potential victims of the scam.
This case serves as a reminder for ATM users to be cautious and vigilant while using machines and interacting with strangers at ATM booths. Authorities urge the public to report any suspicious activities around ATMs to prevent such fraudulent incidents.