986 cards blocked over fraud fears
Even as three more victims approached investigators claiming that money had been fraudulently withdrawn from their accounts, the police and Axis Bank investigators suspect that data from around 986 ATM cards has been stolen from DGP office ATM centre in Colaba. The cards have been blocked after the fraud was reported.
Police says that data of the ATM cards was stolen using the skimmer device, along with hidden camera between April 14 and April 29 at the DGP office ATM booth. After the fraud was detected, bank officials conducted a thorough internal check and found that during this period, 986 ATM cards were used at the said ATM booth and suspect that data of these cards might have been stolen too. Hence, these cards were immediately blocked.
A senior police officer confirmed, “Axis Bank officials informed us that they have blocked 986 ATM cards to prevent any further fraudulent withdrawal of money. This also includes ATM cards of some policemen, but the victim policemen have been informed that the bank will soon issue them a new card and their money is safe.”
With three more victims of the scam approaching investigators, the total number of victims has become 40. Investigators may soon question security guard Rizwan who was on duty at the ATM booth in the month of April when the fraud took place. Rizwan had gone to his village and came back to Mumbai on Tuesday. The police is also checking CCTV feed of the ATM booth of around 25 days.
When contacted, DCP Zone-1, Dr Ravindra Shisve, refused to divulge any information pertaining to the probe.
On June 10, a few policemen received messages from the bank saying that money had been withdrawn from their
salary accounts. Money from the Axis Bank accounts of 37 people, including 14 policemen of the Maharashtra police was withdrawn in Greece. At the same time, Axis Bank detected the fraudulent practice and registered an offence with the Colaba police station.
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