KOLKATA – A 67-year-old man from Kolkata became the latest victim of a shoulder surfing fraud, losing ₹27,000 from his bank account after being approached by a seemingly helpful stranger near an ATM in the southern part of the city.
The incident occurred in the Gariahat area on Monday afternoon when the victim, a retired government employee, visited an ATM kiosk to withdraw cash. A young man, pretending to be helpful, offered assistance when the senior citizen appeared confused while operating the machine. Unbeknownst to him, the individual watched and memorised his PIN, later using sleight of hand to swap his ATM card with a fake one.
According to police officials from the Cyber Cell of Kolkata Police, the suspect withdrew a total of ₹27,000 in multiple transactions from different locations shortly after the incident. The victim only realised he had been defrauded when he attempted to use the card later and found it was not functioning.
Modus Operandi Revealed
Authorities say the accused employed a technique commonly referred to as “shoulder surfing,” a form of fraud where the perpetrator observes the victim entering sensitive information, often in crowded or public spaces. By appearing helpful and building a brief rapport, the fraudster managed to distract the victim long enough to replace the original ATM card with a counterfeit.
An FIR has been registered at the Gariahat Police Station, and surveillance footage from nearby establishments is being reviewed. Preliminary investigations suggest that the accused may be part of a local group involved in similar scams targeting elderly individuals.
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Authorities Urge Caution for ATM Users
Police have issued an advisory urging the public, particularly senior citizens, to be cautious while using ATMs. “Do not entertain assistance from strangers during ATM transactions,” a spokesperson for the Kolkata Police said. “Always cover the keypad while entering your PIN and verify the card before leaving the kiosk.”
The incident highlights the growing challenge of low-tech, high-impact cyber-enabled frauds in urban centres, especially those that prey on the elderly. Kolkata Police have also announced awareness drives in collaboration with resident welfare associations and senior citizen forums.