ATM Scam in Katigorah! Man Loses Rs 35,000 After Card Swap

A man allegedly lost Rs 35,000 after falling victim to an ATM card swap fraud at an SBI ATM in Katigorah Chourangi area on Wednesday. Police have started an investigation into the incident.

The victim, Fakrul Islam, said he had gone to the SBI ATM to withdraw cash but could not remember his PIN as he had not used the card for a long time. While he was trying to complete the transaction, two helmet-wearing young men approached him and offered to help.

According to the victim, one of the men may have observed him entering his PIN. When the cash could not be withdrawn, the men reportedly told him that his ATM card might have expired and asked to check its validity. After looking at the card, they returned it to him, saying that it was valid until 2027.

Fakrul Islam then visited a few other ATMs to try withdrawing money, but the card did not work in any of them. It was only then that he noticed the ATM card in his possession bore the name “Chandan Das”, leading him to realise that his original card had allegedly been swapped.

The victim immediately contacted the bank’s customer care helpline to block his account. However, by that time, Rs 35,000 had already been withdrawn from his account, he alleged.

Following the incident, Fakrul Islam lodged a complaint at Katigorah Police Station. Police have registered the case and launched an investigation to identify and trace the suspects.