Two elderly residents of Udupi district fell prey to fraudsters posing as helpers at ATMs, leading to substantial financial losses in separate incidents.
On October 4, Cheennappa (73), from Kodi village, was targeted while withdrawing Rs 1,000 from a Karnataka Bank ATM in Sasthana. A man offering assistance covertly swapped Cheennappa’s card. It wasn’t until October 7, when he attempted another transaction, that he realized Rs 99,000 had been withdrawn from his account over three days across multiple locations, including Shivamogga and Gokarna. The case has been filed at Kota police station.
In a similar scam on October 6, Jagadish Rao (69), from Kelarkalbettu village, was defrauded after withdrawing Rs 10,000 from a State Bank of India ATM in Santhekatte. The fraudster switched his card, resulting in multiple unauthorized withdrawals totaling Rs 2,40,000. A balance discrepancy remains, with only Rs 32,192 left in his account.
Both incidents underscore the rising threat of ATM fraud in Udupi, prompting authorities to urge caution during ATM transactions and immediate reporting of suspicious activities.
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