Quetta police have arrested three suspects accused of stealing millions through ATM card-swapping fraud. Investigators reveal how criminals targeted pensioners, stole PINs and emptied bank accounts.
QUETTA: Police in Quetta have arrested three alleged members of a gang accused of stealing millions of rupees from bank customers by swapping their ATM cards and secretly observing their PIN codes.
According to Balochistan Police, the suspects were arrested near Kuchlak while allegedly travelling to Ziarat for recreation using money obtained through fraudulent transactions.
Police recovered 45 ATM cards belonging to different banks, Rs500,000 in cash, three mobile phones and a vehicle from their possession. The suspects allegedly used fake number plates associated with government departments and a Sindh High Court lawyer to avoid detection.
The arrested suspects were identified as Zulfiqar, Ghulam Muhammad and Arif Ali. A police officer said initial investigations suggested that the group had operated in Quetta, Karachi, Hyderabad, Larkana and other parts of Sindh.
According to police, the suspects allegedly purchased stolen ATM cards from pickpockets for Rs500 to Rs1,000 each. They reportedly targeted elderly citizens, pensioners and people unfamiliar with ATM machines, particularly at the beginning of each month when salaries and pensions are credited.
The alleged method involved watching customers enter their PIN codes before distracting them and exchanging their original cards with other cards from the same bank. Victims often failed to notice the switch immediately, allowing the suspects to withdraw cash, transfer funds or make purchases.
Police said the group had allegedly been involved in ATM fraud for approximately 12 years, with more than 30 investigation records reportedly linked to it at the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency.
Several victims have reported substantial financial losses. Muhammad Hassan, a government college driver, said his wife’s account was targeted after he attempted to withdraw money from an ATM on Sariab Road. According to his complaint, the suspects allegedly obtained the PIN and switched the card. By the following morning, Rs144,000 had been withdrawn, while another Rs200,000 transferred into the account was subsequently taken out.
In another case, retired health department employee Abdul Qayyum Kasi reported losing Rs480,000 through multiple transactions after his card was allegedly switched. A former NADRA driver, Muhammad Bakhsh, reported a loss of Rs665,000.
Police traced the suspects’ vehicle through CCTV footage and the Safe City surveillance system. Investigations are continuing to establish their involvement in other reported cases and determine whether victims can recover their money.
Bank customers are advised to cover the keypad while entering their PIN, never hand their cards to strangers, and immediately contact their bank if a card is retained by a machine or suspicious transactions appear. Setting appropriate transaction limits can also help minimise potential losses.
