Bengaluru Beware! Courier workers steal ATM cards

Bank Account holders, Beware! A gang, that is quite active in Bengaluru City, has been robbing your bank account very slyly.

Banks usually send new ATM cards and PIN via courier, but this notorious gang makes sure the cards are intercepted even before they reach the account holder.

Eight months ago, Yadhukumar opened a savings account with a bank and credited Rs 1.50 lakh into his account. He later submitted an application to acquire an ATM Card. The bank staff informed him that the ATM card and PIN numbers would be sent through courier, as is customary for most banks.

A week passed by, but the card never arrived. Yadhukumar went back to the bank where he learnt that his ATM card and PIN had already been dispatched via courier three days earlier.

Suspecting foul play, Yadhukumar checked his bank account.

To his absolute horror, he found that the Rs. 1.50 lakh that he had deposited was already withdrawn.

His initial prognosis was that this was the work of cyber thieves. He promptly brought the issue to the notice of bank authorities and a complaint was registered at the Cyber Crime station.

After a six-month investigation, the cyber crime police zeroed in on the culprits; Santosh (30), and Ramachandra (22), both natives of Maddur taluk, near Mandya.

The modus operandi

Ramachandra was working at a courier company in the city while Santhosh was doing some odd jobs. When the bank sent the documents, Ramchandra noted down Yadhukumar’s full name, mobile number and address.

Santosh then called the customer care centre and lodged a false complaint of cell phone theft and got Yadhukuamar’s SIM card blocked. He then went to the Airtel customer care centre where he furnished fake documents and got a duplicate SIM card.

Impersonating Yadhukuamar, Santosh called the courier delivery person through the duplicate SIM card and convinced him that his address was changed and took delivery of the ATM card and PIN.  With the vital documents in hand, the duo wasted no time in wiping Yadhukumar’s account clean.

The brain of the outfit

The police later discovered that Ramachandra and Santosh were not working alone; a lawyer from Maddur is said to be the mastermind behind the gang’s operation.

He brought unemployed youth from his town to Bengaluru and got them jobs at courier offices, logistic companies, cellular customer care centres, etc.  He then supplied them with strategies to carry out sneaky operations.

After arresting the duo (Ramachandra and Santosh), the police have now intensified their search to apprehend other members of the gang as well.  

Many such gang members are said to be active in banks, courier office, customer care centres where one has access to sensitive customer information and details which enable thieves to carry out heists.

A safer option now is to ask for ATM cards and PIN numbers to be delivered at the account holder's nearest branch and to collect them in person instead of having them send vital documents through courier.