ATM fraud at SR Nagar Union Bank: Tape used to block cash slot; panel accessed with duplicate keys

Hyderabad: A case of ATM fraud has come to light in the SR Nagar area after multiple customers at the Union Bank of India’s SME Branch reported failed cash withdrawals from the machine on March 9. While the transactions appeared to be processed on the customers’ accounts, no cash was dispensed from the ATM.

The matter was brought to the attention of the authorities after one affected customer filed a complaint with the banking ombudsman on April 16. An investigation was subsequently launched, which led to the discovery of a sophisticated fraud scheme.

Tape used inside the cash dispensing slot

According to the Sanjeeva Reddy Nagar Police, a review of CCTV footage from the affected ATM revealed disturbing details. It was found that an adhesive tape had been placed inside the cash dispensing slot, blocking the withdrawal mechanism. Even more concerning, the footage showed an unidentified individual using duplicate keys to access the machine’s front panel and remove the trapped cash.

The fraud appears to have been premeditated, with the perpetrators repeatedly accessing the machine throughout the day, allowing them to siphon off an estimated Rs 45,000.

On Wednesday, the police registered a case of theft and fraud after B Pradeep Dinakar Raju, Deputy Branch Head at Union Bank of India, filed a complaint. “Investigations are ongoing, and we are working to identify the culprit,” said Inspector Srinath Reddy of the SR Nagar Police Station. The suspect is believed to have gained unauthorised access to the ATM’s internal components, raising serious concerns about security vulnerabilities.