Karachi Police have arrested one suspect as the port city authorities uncovered a well-coordinated group of IT professionals involved in hacking Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) and stealing money from unsuspecting citizens.
The operation, led by the Special Investigation Unit (SIU), also resulted in the capture of a female accomplice.
According to the SSP, the gang’s method involved hacking ATMs and positioning themselves near bank locations. When a victim’s card became stuck in the machine, a gang member would offer assistance, pretending to call the helpline. During this time, they would trick the victim into revealing their password and other personal details.
The SIU confirmed that the hackers had been actively operating in the city. They created faults in ATMs that caused them to trap users’ cards. Once a customer inserted their card and it became stuck, the victim had no choice but to contact the hacker standing outside.
Disguised as helpful individuals, the hacker would gather the victim’s information, which was then passed on to their accomplices. These accomplices would use the stolen details to withdraw money from the victim’s account. One such incident involved the theft of Rs 400,000 from an elderly man who sought their help after his card was captured by an ATM.
A video has since gone viral showing a man and woman deceiving a customer at an ATM booth.
