STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: Wary about storing cash at homes, we often lay back and relax after our hard-earned money is safely stowed away in a bank of our choosing. However, the city residents can no longer breathe easy after a slew of theft cases has suddenly erupted in the city.
Several bank customers have lost huge sums of money as a probable team of hackers have skillfully managed to steal from several people, their money in both ATM and Paytm accounts. This wealth has been directed to Gurgaon and Mumbai, from where they were emptied.
Since August 24 till 29, a total of 18 cases were registered in this regard at Dispur police station. The looted accounts were from IDBI, SBI, HDFC, Union Bank, Axis, and various other banks. As per the 18 reported cases, amounts of Rs 71000, Rs 14500, Rs 25000, Rs 34000, Rs 12000, Rs 80000, Rs 40000, Rs 200000, Rs 20000, Rs 40000, Rs 20000, Rs 12000, Rs 38000, Rs 65000, Rs 10000, Rs 100000, were stolen from 16 different accounts, and on Thursday, cases against loot of amounts of Rs 100000 from Rajendra Daimari, and Rs 14500 from Junmoni Saikia, were lodged.
14 cases were also registered at Paltanbazar police station where case number (960/19) was registered against loot of Rs 25000, case number (961/19) was registered against loot of Rs 14000, case number (962/19) was registered against loot of Rs 40000, case number (964/19) was registered against loot of Rs 100000, case number (965/19) was registered against loot of Rs 3000, case number (967/19) was registered against loot of Rs 19000, case number (968/19) was registered against loot of Rs 23000, case number (969/19) was registered against loot of Rs 5000, case number (970/19) was registered against loot of Rs 40000, case number (971/19) was registered against loot of Rs 16000, case number (973/19) was registered against loot of Rs 60000, case number (976/19) was registered against loot of Rs 20500, and on Friday, case number (978/19) was registered against loot of Rs 22000.
It is worth mentioning that recently, a high-tech device used by ATM hackers, a first of its kind in the Northeast, was detected at an SBI ATM at Dispur Last Gate. The device – comprising a spy camera, a memory card and a small data device – can record ATM details of bank customers. The small device called as ATM hacker was kept fitted at the passage of the ATM through which cards are swiped.