ATM transactions are something we all rely on for quick and easy cash withdrawals. But what if this convenience is turned into a tool for fraud? In a shocking incident from Thiruvananthapuram, two unidentified men managed to steal Rs 2.52 lakh from an SBI ATM without even deducting money from any customer’s account. Keep reading to know how they pulled off this clever scam and how it was uncovered.
Between June 2022 and July 2023, the suspects targeted an SBI ATM on Padmavilasam Road in Fort. They used multiple stolen or lost ATM cards to withdraw money repeatedly. After withdrawing cash, they used to left one note behind in the machine’s cash delivery compartment, reports TOI.
This small but calculated act triggered the ATM to register the transaction as incomplete, leading to a “Timeout Error.” Because the machine marked the transaction as incomplete, the money wasn’t deducted from the account holders’ balances. This trick ensured no complaints were raised by customers, and the fraud remained hidden for months.
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The scam came to light when discrepancies were found between the total cash deposited in the ATM and the amounts withdrawn. Initially, a bank committee investigated the irregularities but couldn’t identify the problem. With no leads or evidence, even the bank staff came under suspicion.
The breakthrough occurred when investigators reviewed CCTV footage from the ATM. They discovered that the same individuals frequently visited the machine, using various stolen ATM cards. The footage captured the suspects’ actions, which eventually led SBI officials to report the case to the Fort police.
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The Fort police have registered a case under IPC Sections 406 (criminal breach of trust) and 420 (cheating). They are working to identify the culprits using CCTV visuals provided by the bank.
This incident highlights the importance of safeguarding ATM cards and staying vigilant about suspicious activity. It also serves as a reminder for banks to strengthen security measures to prevent similar scams in the future.