Kollam: Homemaker loses Rs 5 lakh in ATM fraud

KOLLAM: A homemaker in Kollam has lost nearly Rs 5 lakh in a recent ATM fraud. The money was found to be withdrawn from various north Indian states during the past several weeks.

In total, Kollamites have lost more than Rs 15 lakh in ATM and online frauds took place in the recent past.

Leena Sathar, of Bhavana Nagara 76, Kadappakkada, is the latest victim.

She had lost Rs 4,80,000 from her bank account with the SBI main branch in Kollam in 24 transactions, 11 ATM transactions and 13 online transfers between May 14 and 22.

The money went to different accounts, and she noticed it on May 27 and filed a complaint with the bank two days later. However, the bank authorities took a stand that no compensation would be given as the incident was reported very late. The petitioner has now approached the banking ombudsman.

A major share of the money was withdrawn through ATMs in Rajasthan, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Ms Sathar also received an SMS alert on the transactions made, but failed to notice it as she was in a hospital with her daughter in Delhi, she claims.

She also filed a police complaint which is now being investigated by the state high-tech cell.

The cell has sought the support of police authorities in other states collecting CCTV visuals and details of the account numbers used to transfer money.

It has been found that forged identity cards were used to open these accounts used for money swindling in 9 days over 24 transactions.

Nearly two dozen account holders from Kollam alone had lost money in fraudulent ATM transactions took place in the first week of May from Bihar, West Bengal and Jharkhand.