Pune Sees Surge in ATM Fraud Targeting Senior Citizens
Pune, 10th February 2025: A series of ATM frauds targeting senior citizens has been reported in Pune, with three cases registered across Lashkar, Kothrud, and Sahakar Nagar Police Stations. The perpetrators are exploiting elderly individuals by offering assistance at ATMs and subsequently stealing their cards and PINs to withdraw money fraudulently.
In the most recent incident, a senior citizen from the Kondhwa area fell victim to a scam at an ATM centre on East Street in Pune Camp. The fraudster, under the guise of helping, obtained the victim’s ATM card and PIN, later withdrawing ₹11,500 from the account. The crime came to light on 8th February when the victim noticed the unauthorised transaction and filed a complaint at Lashkar Police Station.
A more significant fraud occurred in the Anand Nagar area on Paud Road, where an elderly woman was deceived at an ATM. The criminals stole her card and managed to withdraw ₹1 lakh from her account. The victim, a resident of Kothrud, has filed a complaint at Kothrud Police Station.
The largest fraud among the three cases took place in Dhankawadi, where a senior citizen lost ₹3.55 lakh to a similar scam. The incident occurred at an ATM near Teen Hatti Chowk, with the perpetrator employing the same modus operandi of offering help and swapping the victim’s card with a fake one.
All cases are being investigated by the respective police stations. Pune Police urge senior citizens to exercise caution while using ATMs and avoid accepting help from strangers during transactions. They also advise the public to report any suspicious activity around ATMs immediately.
