5 arrested for skimming debit cards and cheating customers

The Bengaluru police have arrested five people for skimming debit cards of customers and diverting funds from their bank accounts. The police have recovered Rs 6 lakhs from the accused and are establishing the identity of the debit card-holders from whose account money was withdrawn.

The accused Jaikumar (42), Irfan Ahmed (32), Waseem Sharief (26), Tajmul Ahmed (37) and Raghavendra (33) are being interrogated by the police for partnering with commercial establishments to obtain debit card details, including the PIN, through skimming.

According to the police, the gang befriended cashiers / accountants at commercial establishments and installed card readers in the debit card swiping machines. After collecting the details of the customers, who swiped their cards at the commercial establishments, they created fake cards using the details.

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Later, they opened accounts with SBI, SBM, Axis Bank, Laxmi Vilas Bank and Syndicate banks posing as merchants. They also acquired debit card / credit card swiping machines. Using the fake debit cards, they transferred money into their bank accounts using the PIN. They led a posh life and purchased high end cars,?? said Bengaluru City Police Commissioner N S Megharikh.

The police are tracing the cashiers of commercial establishments that shared the debit card details of customers. A few of them are said to be absconding after the police arrested the five people.

In addition to Rs 6 lakhs, the police recovered laptops, card swiping machines and other equipment worth Rs 25 lakhs from the accused. Three cars used by the accused have also been seized by the police.