An ATM counter of the State Bank of India in Balangir. Telegraph picture

Balangir, July 18: Several police complaints and subsequent verification of CCTV footages have revealed that a gang of youths is duping many ATM users in the town.

The youths offer voluntary help to ATM users, who do not know to operate the machine properly. In the process, the goons transfer money from one account to another using the same card.

The matter came under police scanner a week ago when an ATM user lodged a complaint with the Balangir superintendent of police that his account had been emptied by an unknown person, who had offered help to him.

Based on the complaint, the police, while verifying the CCTV footages of some of the ATMs in the town, found that some youths had been suspiciously found inside the counters. The youths were found keeping constant watch on ATM visitors. Some of them were even found to be seeing the PIN code of the ATM users on the sly.

In case of one complainant, who hailed from Subalaya of Subarnapur district, the person, who had offered transaction help, cleverly transferred money to another account after knowing the password.

The gang normally targets rural people, many of who are unaware about ATM operation. The town has around 30 ATM counters, majority of which belong to the State Bank of India. But no security personnel are deployed at SBI ATMs and this results in many users entering the booth at the same time. Private bank ATMs, however, are manned round the clock.

Arun Mishra of Balangir alleged that the SBI had the maximum number of ATMs in the town. “It is very unfortunate that the SBI, which is the largest bank in the country, can’t deploy a security guard at its ATM booths. We feel insecure, as there are reports of a gang targeting ATM users here. As there are no security personnel, several persons enter the counter at a time making it a risky affair,” he said.

Balangir police chief Avinash Kumar said: “Gang members keep an eye on the people who don’t know how to operate an ATM properly. The youths offer voluntary help. In the process they track the PIN and transfer money from one account to another.”

The police chief said further probe was on and the cops had information that an inter-state gang was behind the racket.