Pune: A 47-year-old resident of Rahatani in Pimpri-Chinchwad became the latest victim of ATM fraud after unknowingly contacting a bogus helpline number pasted inside a tampered ATM booth in Nakhate Vasti. The incident took place on the evening of April 15 when the man’s debit card got stuck during a withdrawal attempt at a State Bank of India (SBI) ATM around 8:45 PM.
Believing it to be a technical issue, the victim spotted a customer care number displayed inside the kiosk and called for assistance. The individual who answered posed as a bank representative and requested sensitive banking details, including the victim’s debit card PIN. Trusting the caller, the man complied — only to discover later that more than ₹1.24 lakh had been withdrawn from his account through a series of online transactions.
When he failed to get help from the bank, the man approached Kalewadi Police Station to report the fraud. Based on his complaint, a case has been registered under Section 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita along with applicable sections of the Information Technology Act. Investigating officers have confirmed that the transactions were fraudulent and that efforts are ongoing to trace the culprits involved.
This case bears similarities to an earlier scam reported in Wadgaon Dhayari, where two women were conned using a similar tactic — a fake customer service number displayed inside an SBI ATM booth. Both cases highlight a disturbing trend in which fraudsters exploit ATM users by placing counterfeit helpline numbers at kiosks.
Law enforcement agencies have reiterated warnings to citizens, urging them not to trust any phone numbers pasted inside ATMs. For any issues with banking services, individuals are advised to contact their bank through official helplines or visit the nearest branch. Sharing confidential information like PINs and account details over phone calls can result in serious financial fraud and identity theft.
