The great Kolkata bank fraud

One ATM, over 50 victims on record and Rs 20 lakh (and counting) lost: an entire south Kolkata locality has woken up to the city’s most audacious ATM fraud yet. TOI tracks what over 50 homes in the heart of south Kolkata have gone through over the last five days. Here are the accounts of some of the victims

I had Rs 14,000 in my account, out of which Rs 10,000 was withdrawn. That was all I had. The text notification came on July 29. I have lost my entire salary and now I don’t know how I am going to run my expenses. I also need to send money home. For the last two days, I have been running from the

bank

to the police station to lodge complaints


I was on my way to Kolkata from my home in Burdwan on Sunday afternoon when I got a text notification. I was shocked since I had neither withdrawn money nor had I lost my debit card. I called the customer care and my colleagues. None had any clue to what could have happened. On Monday, I rushed to the bank and found that several others had been similarly robbed

At 9 pm, I received the first text that mentioned Rs 20,000 was debited from my account. I was taken aback when I received another text in two minutes about another Rs 20,000 being withdrawn. I guessed that something must have gone wrong and lodged a complaint the next day. But the bank has not given me any assurance about returning my money. This is shocking

In just 10 minutes, Rs 30,000 was withdrawn from my account in three transactions. I called up the customer care of the bank immediately and even rushed to the nearest ATM at 11.30 in the night to get a mini statement. It said the money was withdrawn from a place in Delhi. I went to the bank the following day and lodged a police complaint

Just as I was about to go to bed at 11pm on Sunday, I received text notifications of four transactions in a span of 10 minutes. I stared at my phone helplessly even as four text messages informed me that Rs 40000 had been withdrawn from my account. I have blocked my card and have lodged a complaint with the bank. I have been to the local police station which asked me to fill up an insurance form. I don’t know if I will get my money back

Since it was the monthend, I had kept an amount aside to pay my shop rent. On Sunday night, I received a text which said the money has been withdrawn. I knew this was a fraud transaction. On Monday, I went to the ATM to check my account balance and my worst fears were confirmed. The amount had indeed been withdrawn and I had a balance of just Rs 2000. On Tuesday, I went to the bank and found that many others like me have been cheated the same way

I have a joint SBI account with my wife. On July 26 around 10.30pm, I received a text which said the amount had been withdrawn at the New Kalkaji Market in Delhi. A total of Rs 30,000 was withdrawn in three transactions. Another Rs 5,000 was withdrawn from my Canara Bank account on the same night. I have lodged a complaint with the bank, Lalbazar police headquarters and at the anti-bank fraud department

On Sunday night while we were having dinner, my wife received a text for a withdrawal. She was surprised for she had not used her debit card. I checked my phone and to my horror I found that Rs 30000 had been withdrawn. I have called the bank and lodged a complaint with the local police station. So far, there is no clear explanation of what could have happened. But I want my money back

SATISH MODIDRIVERAge | 39 Resident of Kakulia Road Money lostRs10,000

PRASHANT KUMARPRIVATE FIRM EMPLOYEEAge | 42 Resident of Burdwan Money lostRs10,000

ANINDITA MUKHERJEEHOMEMAKERAge | 32 Resident of | Ballygunge Gardens Money lost |Rs40,000

KANKAN ROY CHOUDHRYRETIRED GOVT OFFICIALAge | 70 Resident of Ballygunge Gardens Money lostRs30,000

KAUSHIK BOSESOFTWARE ENGINEERAge | 32 Resident of Purna Das Road Money lostRs40,000

ANINDITA BASAKBOUTIQUE OWNERAge | 42 Resident of Fern Road Money lostRs14,000

AMIT MAJUMDARMANAGER AT A RESTAURANTAge | 39 Resident of | Southern Avenue Money lostRs35,000

BASUDEB BHATTACHARYAPRIVATE FIRM EMPLOYEEAge | 47 Resident of Ballygunge Place Money lostRs50,000