Jamshedpur, Oct. 31: Customers should note that the next time they open a bank account and avail of the ATM facility, they obtain their ATM PIN in person.

In case they decide to opt out of the ATM card they should make doubly sure from their bank that they do not have the facility at all.

Poonam Prabha, a resident of Govindpur, who has an account with the State Bank of India?s Chotta Govindpur branch without an ATM card, had the shock of her life when Rs 35,000 was withdrawn from her account through an ATM card, which actually was never issued to her.

Prabha, in a letter to the deputy general manager, SBI stated that she had Rs 35,011.48 in the bank. But, recently when she went to withdraw money, the official told her that she could not do so since her account only had only Rs 11.48. On checking her bank statement, Prabha found that Rs 35,000 was withdrawn from her account, between September 16 and October 7, through an ATM, which she says that she does not even have.

When contacted, deputy general manager, SBI, Main Branch in Bistupur, Suman Verma said there are many instances where the account holders were given suo motu ATMs cards, despite not applying for one.

He said there have been a few cases, where someone known to the account holder has taken the ATM card on his behalf, saying that the account holder is not in town, then smartly copying his signature and withdrawing money in instalments.

Verma said there have been 10 to 12 similar cases. He however added that the account holders need not worry as the culprits will be nabbed soon since all the SBI ATMs have in-built cameras. Bank sources said the rampant misuse of ATM cards have been on the rise ever since the bank began issuing ATM cards at zero balance to employees of several companies and organisations.

In cases, the account holder is unaware that he holds an ATM, which has been issued and taken without his knowledge, and thereafter misused.