Kerala: Two held for ATM robbery

KOZHIKODE: The police took into custody two persons on Monday in connection with the series of fraudulent  withdrawals from various ATM counters of  Punjab National Bank in the city and outskirts between January 7 and 14. Three customers in the district had lost a total of Rs 30,223 from their accounts. The number of complaints later increased but the total amount of money lost was not revealed though the bank alerted the police.   

The complainants had lost their money from the PNB's ATM counters at Pantheerankavu, Mankavu and Vellimadukunnu. The accused who masterminded the theft had installed skimmers on the card swiping slot of the ATM machines and recorded the pin number using a small camera, according to the police. The data on the chip of the skimmer was later transferred to their computers. After collecting the data from the ATM counters, the accused went to Pichannur near Coimbatore and withdrew the money using fake ATM cards. 

However, the police refused to divulge the details about the accused. Assistant commissioner (South) K.P. Abdul Razak, who is leading the investigation, told DC that though some people were in custody, a final picture can be given only later. "We suspect many persons are in the gang,"  he said.  The police had earlier confirmed that the ATM fraud was executed by leaking the details on the card using a magnetic chip fitted on the ATM machines.

The accused were identified after perusing the visuals of CCTVs of ATM counters and on CCTV cameras of nearby business establishments. Cases were registered at Chevayoor, Nadakkavu, Kasaba, Chemmangad and Thamarassery police station limits. The police had launched a detailed probe after the the bank lodged a complaint with them.