IT staff, aide arrested for running ATM card racket

Lucknow: A 26-year-old IT company employee and his associate were arrested by a joint team of the crime branch and Madiaon police for allegedly operating a sophisticated ATM card-swapping racket across multiple states, police said on Sunday.In Lucknow alone, the duo was accused of duping victims across at least 20 police station areas over the past three years. The accused were identified as Dilshad (26), a resident of Lillapur in Pratapgarh who previously worked with a private IT firm and Shahban (28), a driver from Madhai Ka Purwa in the same district. They were arrested near an SBI ATM at GSI Power House crossing following a tip-off about two suspicious men riding a motorcycle without a number plate.Additional DCP (north) Rishabh Runwal said that during a search, police recovered 181 ATM cards of various banks, four forged Aadhaar cards, two Android mobile phones, ₹2,050 in cash and a motorcycle allegedly purchased using siphoned money.During interrogation, the accused reportedly confessed to cheating around 110 people of nearly ₹30 lakh. They allegedly operated not only in Lucknow but also in other districts of Uttar Pradesh as well as Delhi and Maharashtra. Police said the duo primarily targeted women and elderly customers at ATM kiosks. One would offer assistance in withdrawing cash, discreetly observe the PIN, and then swap the victim's ATM card. The stolen cards were later used to withdraw money.In Lucknow, fraud cases linked to the accused spanned areas, including Madiaon, Jankipuram, Para, Chinhat, Alambagh, Naka and Kaiserbagh. Several complaints of unauthorised withdrawals were earlier registered at Madiaon and Para police stations.Relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita were invoked. Both accused have prior criminal records. Police said further investigation was underway to trace additional victims and possible accomplices.