Kendujhar: The Kendujhar Town Police have busted an alleged ATM card fraud racket with the arrest of four persons accused of cheating elderly and unsuspecting bank customers by swapping their debit and credit cards at ATMs before withdrawing money from their accounts.
The accused have been identified as Balram Sahu of Nemala in Cuttack district, who police described as the mastermind of the gang, along with Mrutyunjay Mahapatra, Manas Ranjan Pani, both from Nemala, and Purnachandra Mallik of Kendrapara district.
Police said the gang allegedly targeted senior citizens and other vulnerable ATM users by replacing their bank cards with similar-looking ones and subsequently using the stolen cards to withdraw cash from different ATMs.
The investigation was launched after a case was registered at Kendujhar Town Police Station following complaints of ATM-related fraud. Acting on technical and field intelligence, investigators tracked down the suspects and arrested all four accused.
During the operation, police seized 232 debit and credit cards, nine mobile phones, Rs 12,000 in cash and a car allegedly used by the accused.
According to police, the accused were involved in multiple ATM fraud cases across Odisha as well as in other states. Preliminary investigation has revealed that more than 100 criminal cases are registered against the four accused at various police stations.
Sadar SDPO Sudarshan Gangoi disclosed the details of the operation and the seizure during a press conference, stating that further investigation is underway to trace the full extent of the network and identify additional victims.
