Mumbai: Mumbai Police have busted an ATM cash-trapping scam in the Bhandup area, where a gang allegedly used a plastic strip to block cash from being dispensed and later collected the trapped money. Police have arrested three people, including the alleged mastermind and two women accused of assisting in the fraud.
The case came to light after several customers complained that money had been deducted from their bank accounts but they did not receive cash from the ATM. According to police, the accused exploited ATM users by making them believe that the machine had malfunctioned.
The investigation was initiated after a complaint was filed by a 37-year-old branch manager of Bank of Baroda in Bhandup. The bank’s ATM located at Sachdev Complex had received five separate complaints from customers who reported that cash was not dispensed despite successful debit transactions from their accounts.
Following the complaints, police registered a case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) against unidentified suspects and began investigating the matter.
CCTV Revealed the Modus Operandi
During the investigation, police examined CCTV footage from the ATM for two consecutive days and identified the method used by the gang.
According to investigators, the accused entered the ATM before customers and inserted a thin grey plastic strip into the cash dispenser slot. When customers attempted to withdraw money, the currency notes reportedly got stuck inside the machine instead of coming out.
Believing that the ATM was not functioning properly, customers left the location. The accused then allegedly returned shortly afterwards and removed the trapped cash from the dispenser.
Police said the CCTV footage showed that the main accused was assisted by other members of the gang at different times while carrying out the operation.
Mastermind Arrested, Property Worth ₹1.29 Lakh Seized
Based on the CCTV analysis and other evidence, Bhandup Police arrested the alleged mastermind, identified as 21-year-old Mohammad Ziyad alias Ayan Irshad Ahmed.
During further investigation, police identified two alleged female accomplices — 45-year-old Arifa Azeem Dukandar and 24-year-old Namira Azeem Dukandar. Police have issued notices to both under Section 35(3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) as the investigation continues.
Police have recovered property worth approximately ₹1.29 lakh from the accused. The seized items include a motorcycle valued at around ₹80,000, a grey plastic strip allegedly used in the ATM fraud, a mobile phone worth ₹10,000, and cash amounting to ₹39,500.
Police Issue Alert for ATM Users
Police have advised citizens to remain cautious while using ATMs and immediately report any suspicious activity. Customers have been urged to check whether cash has actually been dispensed after completing a withdrawal transaction.
Officials said that if money is deducted from an account but cash is not received, customers should immediately inform the bank and contact the police without leaving the matter unresolved.
The operation was carried out under the supervision of senior Mumbai Police officials. The investigation is continuing to determine whether the accused were involved in similar ATM fraud cases in other areas.
Police are also examining whether the gang had targeted multiple ATM locations and whether more people were involved in the network.
