Panchkula Police have arrested two men accused of swapping ATM cards to steal money from unsuspecting bank customers in Haryana.
How Did the ATM Fraud Work?
Police said the suspects targeted ATM users, particularly elderly and less-educated people, by offering assistance with cash withdrawals. After gaining their trust, they allegedly obtained the victims’ ATM PINs and exchanged their original debit cards for similar-looking cards. The accused would then claim that the transaction had failed or the machine was malfunctioning, leaving customers unaware that their cards had been replaced.
Investigators said the stolen cards and PINs were subsequently used to withdraw money from other ATMs. During questioning, the accused also reportedly admitted to collecting cards left behind in ATM machines and using them to withdraw cash.
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Who Were the Arrested Accused?
The arrested men have been identified as Manoj Kumar, a resident of Hisar district, and Anil, from Bhiwani district. They were arrested on October 14 by the Cyber Crime Police Station, Sector 20, following information about suspicious activity near ATMs in the Sector 20 market. Police recovered 70 ATM cards, a point-of-sale (POS) machine and two mobile phones.
According to DCP (Crime and Traffic) Amrinder Singh, 43 cards belonging to different banks were recovered from Manoj, while 27 cards and the POS machine were seized from Anil. Both accused were remanded to four days of police custody.
What Did the Investigation Reveal?
A complaint involving an elderly resident of Sector 14, Panchkula, provided an important lead. Investigators reportedly found that the accused resembled individuals captured in CCTV footage connected to the case. Police are examining the recovered cards to identify their owners and determine whether they are linked to other complaints.
Investigators are also tracing suspected withdrawals across Haryana and Delhi, identifying other possible gang members and examining how the POS machine was obtained. The total number of victims and the amount allegedly withdrawn remain under investigation.
A case was registered under Sections 318(4) and 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
What Should ATM Users Know?
Commissioner of Police Pankaj Nain urged customers not to disclose ATM PINs or hand over cards to strangers offering assistance. Police advised users to cover the keypad while entering their PIN and verify that the card returned after a transaction belongs to them. Anyone suspecting a card swap should immediately contact their bank to block the card and report the incident to police.
The Panchkula investigation highlights how a seemingly helpful stranger at an ATM can allegedly exploit a customer’s trust to obtain both a debit card and its PIN. The recovery of 70 cards suggests investigators must examine whether the suspected operation extends beyond the complaints already identified.
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