Mumbai Crime: Three in Vasai fall prey to card cloning fraud

People whose cards were cloned Pics/Hanif Patel

Three women from Vasai were cumulatively robbed of R81,500 after their cards were cloned and the money fraudulently withdrawn by the hackers. The women had all used an ATM centre at Tamtalao on January 20 and the cash was withdrawn on January 23. Ashraf Rauf Sheikh, a resident of Vasai (West), received four SMSes one after the other on January 23 notifying a withdrawal of Rs.33,000.

Message received of funds being withdrawn. Pics/Hanif Patel

Ashraf, who hadn't made any transactions, called up her Bassein Catholic Bank to ask about the withdrawals. Officials from the bank informed Ashraf that her card must have been cloned by a hacker who was withdrawing the money. Ashraf immediately blocked her card and reached Vasai police station to register the complaint.

"When I reached the police station I found Maria Dias, 31, a resident of Papdi (Vasai), who had lost Rs.10,500, and Helen Andrades, 60, resident of Inodi Wadi, who had lost Rs 38,000. We all had used the same ATM on January 20," said Ashraf. The Vasai police have registered a complaint against unknown accused under IPC section 420 (cheating). "We have asked for CCTV footage of the ATM centre and will probe accordingly. If others have received similar messages, they should contact the cops," said an officer.

Rs. 81K Total amount of cash stolen

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