ATM fraudsters steal Rs 4.3 lakh from elderly woman’s account

It has come to light that all of her money was withdrawn by fraudsters using a fake ATM card. Biwi suspected the role of bank staff in making the fake ATM card.

Biwi said the Indian Bank on Variety Hall Road had issued an ATM card to another woman called Najima Begum by linking her account. And the woman, whose real identity was yet to be ascertained, had swindled the entire money belonging to Biwi.

Biwi, in her petition to City Police Commissioner K Periaiah, alleged that the bank had given the ATM card to another woman without verifying details. “I gave my passbook and life certificate to those filling forms near the Coimbatore Corporation office in order to renew my life certificate on April 1. They retained the passbook with them and asked me to come after two days. I then received them and submitted to the Corporation office and got my life certificate renewed on April 5,” she said in her complaint.

Biwi had been receiving her pension and that of her late husband in the account. Though her money was withdrawn over a period of time, she did not receive any message on her mobile phone. To make her point, the complainant also submitted the bank statement showing details of withdrawals ranging from Rs 50,000 on April 24 to Rs 300 on May 4.

The woman claimed that despite repeated requests, the bank failed to return her amount.

Meanwhile, police officers privy to the investigation said they would soon summon the bank officials for an inquiry to trace the fraudsters.

“We have no clue as to how the fraud happened. It needs to be investigated,” said an officer.