• Mou Mou
• 15 Feb, 2025

A major ATM scam has been reported in Kolkata’s Jadavpur area, where fraudsters allegedly tricked customers into revealing their PINs through a fake bank helpline. Victims lost over Rs 1.5 lakh in multiple unauthorised transactions. Cyber law experts explain how such scams work and what steps victims should take to recover their money.

How Did the Scam Happen.?

Late last night customers at an “SBI ATM near Jadavpur Stadium” experienced technical issues while withdrawing cash. Their ATM cards got locked inside the machine forcing them to call the “helpline number displayed on the ATM. However instead of real bank representatives, scammers answered the calls.

Victims were instructed to ‘enter their PIN and press the cancel button’ to unlock their cards. Moments later they noticed large sums disappearing from their accounts.

Cyber Expert’s Warning

A cybersecurity specialist explained

- Banks ‘never ask for PINs over the phone’.

- Customers should ‘only call the official 1930 cyber fraud helpline’ for such cases.

- Victims should immediately file a complaint with ‘local police and the bank manager’ providing acknowledgment slips from 1930 calls and a copy of the police report.

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What to Do If You’re a Victim.?

1. Call 1930 - India’s official cyber fraud helpline.

2. File a Police Complaint - Visit the nearest cyber police station.

3. Inform the Bank - Submit police and 1930 call reports to the branch manager.

4. Act Fast - Banks can recover lost money if reported quickly.

Impact of the Scam

Two SBI customers lost over Rs 1.5 lakh raising concerns about ATM security. The incident highlights the ‘urgent need for banks to verify helpline numbers’ displayed at ATMs and educate customers about fraud prevention.

SBI and local authorities have yet to respond to the allegations. However, cybercrime officials urge customers to ‘verify bank contacts before calling for assistance’.

ATM frauds are becoming increasingly sophisticated, with scammers exploiting customers' trust in ‘helpline numbers displayed at ATMs’. Staying alert and following cybersecurity guidelines can prevent financial losses. If you ever face a similar situation, ‘never share your PIN over the phone and report the fraud immediately’.