ATM card gets stuck, fake helpline call costs woman ₹40,000 in Howrah

A woman in the Salkia area of Howrah was allegedly duped of ₹40,000 in a case of ATM fraud after her card became stuck in a machine and fraudsters tricked her into contacting a fake helpline number. Police have launched an investigation into the incident and are examining CCTV footage to trace those involved.

The victim, identified as Debolina Mukherjee, had gone to a local ATM on Tuesday evening to withdraw cash. During the transaction, her ATM card reportedly became stuck in the slot due to a technical glitch, and repeated attempts to retrieve it were unsuccessful.

At that point, an unidentified person present inside the ATM cabin approached her and offered assistance. The man allegedly advised her to call a mobile number written with a marker inside the ATM booth, claiming it was a helpline for assistance. When she dialled the number, the person on the other end introduced himself as a bank employee and advised her to return after two hours.

After the woman left the ATM, the fraudsters reportedly removed the card from the machine and used the PIN to withdraw ₹40,000 through multiple transactions from different locations. The fraud came to light when Mukherjee received SMS alerts on her mobile phone indicating withdrawals from her account.

She immediately contacted the bank and blocked her account, preventing further financial loss. Following the complaint, officers from Malipanchghara Police Station and the cybercrime cell initiated an investigation. Police have also cautioned the public to avoid trusting unofficial phone numbers written inside ATM booths and to contact only official bank helplines in such situations.