Rewa ATM Fraud: Teacher Loses Rs 80,000 in Card Swap Scam

Two miscreants posing as helpers swapped the debit card of a school teacher at an ATM booth in Rewa and withdrew more than Rs 80,000 from his account. The Rewa ATM fraud came to light on Saturday when CCTV footage of the April 8 incident surfaced.

ATM Card Swap Incident

The incident took place at the Neem Chauraha ATM booth under Vivi police station area. Mithailal Saket, a teacher posted at Kandaila School in Baikunthpur and resident of Ravidas Nagar, had gone to withdraw cash on Wednesday evening.

He inserted his card but the transaction failed. As he stood confused, two young men waiting outside entered the booth offering help.

Pretext of Assistance Used

The duo acted swiftly. While one distracted the teacher, the other swapped his card with a different one belonging to a person named Kamta Giri. Saket, unaware of the switch, took the fake card and left for home.

Fraudsters Empty Account

A short while later, the accused used the original card at another ATM and withdrew over Rs 80,000. The teacher received SMS alerts on his mobile phone about the large transaction. When he checked his card, he realised it was not his own.

Victim Realises Fraud via Message

Shocked, Saket immediately lodged a complaint with Vivi police. He confirmed that the card he was carrying belonged to someone else and that his account had been cleaned out.

CCTV Footage Released

Police registered a case after receiving the complaint. The ATM booth’s CCTV cameras captured the entire sequence clearly. The footage, which surfaced on Saturday, shows the two accused in action and has become the main evidence in the probe.

Police Initiate Probe

Officers are now using the CCTV images to identify and trace the duo. Teams have been formed to scan nearby areas and check possible hideouts. No arrests have been made so far.

Safety Advisory Issued

Rewa police have appealed to citizens to remain extra cautious at ATM booths. Officials urged people never to accept help from strangers and to never share their card or PIN with anyone. They also advised users to cover the keypad while entering the PIN.

The Rewa ATM fraud has once again highlighted the growing sophistication of such crimes in smaller cities. Police said they are treating the matter seriously and expect to identify the accused soon using the clear visuals from the footage.

Local residents expressed concern over the safety of public ATMs, especially after dark. Many said they now prefer to visit bank branches or use digital payments for larger amounts. Authorities have promised regular patrolling around ATM kiosks in the district to prevent similar incidents.

As the investigation continues, police have asked anyone with information about the two men shown in the CCTV to contact the nearest police station immediately. The case remains under active probe.