THE DEBIT OF ATM WITHDRAWAL ATM FRAUDS CONTINUE TO HAUNT

 Firoz.T.Totanawala

The Bangalore Metro Reporter

15th August 2011 issue-                        

                        THE DEBIT OF ATM WITHDRAWAL

                     ATM FRAUDS CONTINUE TO HAUNT

Technology has its own perils. Another ATM fraud surfaces which may instill fear of the unknown among the ATM users. Nevertheless, precaution is always better.

Lokesh a cab driver working for a software company had opened his Savings bank account a year back in State Bank of India’s Kottigepalya Branch, Magadi Road in Bangalore. As per Bank’s facility, he was issued an ATM Debit card through which he can make transactions from his account. On 26^th of July, 2011, Lokesh withdrew Rs. 1000/- from his account through his debit card from a nearby ATM at Magadi road. As a regular feature he also immediately received an SMS alert of his withdrawal on his mobile phone.

However, it is common for Indian mobile users to receive myriads of unwanted messages everyday and Lokesh too is a victim of the same. He received messages again on his mobile but ignored it assuming it to be the unwanted marketing messages.

But, when he visited the bank to withdraw more money on 01^st of August, 2011, he received a major shock as he realized that there was only a minimum balance of Rs. 1500/- in his account. Upon verification he came to know that on the same day when he last withdraw Rs. 1000/- from an ATM, another Rs. 38000/- had been withdrawn in a span of about 5 to 7 minutes. The amount was withdrawn from another machine of the same ATM which houses 2 machines.

He rushed to the SBI Branch Manager and narrated his story and clarified that he had never withdrawn Rs. 38000/- on that day. Lokesh then rushed to Kamakshipalya police Station and lodged a complained. He also requested the SBI Bank to provide him the CCTV image of the person withdrawing Rs. 38000/- from his account.

SBI Bank however, sought some time and Lokesh is waiting for the CCTV image. He had also argued that how can a person withdraw Rs. 38000/- from an ATM machine in a single transaction. However, it was clarified to him that an ATM machine can dispense 40 notes a single time. In his case, 37 notes of Rs. 1000/- plus 2 notes of Rs. 500/- were dispensed which is practical.

TBMR spoke with SBI, Magadi Road Branch Manager Ms Veena who informed us to contact CAC incharge Mr. Narsimha Murthy. Narsimha Murthy when contacted admitted that it was a fraudulent transaction and they will confirm it after verifying the CCTV image which is expected in a day or two.