By Aziz Khatri
KARACHI: Malir Police have arrested a fraudster who targeted citizens under the pretext of assisting them to withdraw cash from ATMs. The operation was carried out by Shah Latif Police using intelligence-led and technical methods, resulting in the capture of the suspect, Zahid Ali.
Initial investigations revealed that the suspect, along with accomplices, would observe citizens at various bank ATMs. When a customer faced difficulty withdrawing money, the suspect would present himself as a helper and accompany them inside. At the opportune moment, he would secretly switch the ATM card.
Police said the suspect would watch the citizen enter their PIN, then create the impression that the machine had failed without physically punching in the card. After the victim left, the suspect would use the original card and PIN to withdraw cash.
The arrested suspect admitted to targeting multiple citizens with his accomplices and also to withdrawing funds by changing ATM cards of women eligible under the Benazir Income Support Program.
Following complaints from the public, police acted swiftly to apprehend the suspect. Various ATM cards from different banks and from the Benazir Income Support Program were recovered from his possession. Legal action against the suspect is ongoing, and police are conducting further raids to locate his accomplices.
