Kerala man cheats ATM users by swapping cards

COIMBATORE: A 36-year-old man from Kerala was arrested by Valparai police for allegedly deceiving people at ATMs using expired cards, while pretending to offer assistance in withdrawing their money. He would switch fake cards with originals and then withdraw money from victims’ accounts.

The arrested has been identified as K Najeeb from Cherthala in Alappuzha district in Kerala, who works as a wall painter. Police seized 43 dummy ATM cards, three caps, five face masks, and Rs 5,290 in cash from him.

Police said a 45-year-old tea estate worker named Murugammal, who is residing in Nallamudi estate third division, filed a complaint on November 9. She reported that an unknown man helped her at an ATM kiosk in Valparai town and swindled Rs 9,000 from her account by swapping her original ATM card for a fake one. Following her complaint, Valparai town police launched a search.