SRINAGAR: Police have arrested an alleged ATM-swapping fraudster in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir and found that he was also allegedly involved in drug abuse and peddling, officials said on Saturday.
The accused, identified as Aejaz Ahmed, a resident of Morha Bachai village, was arrested in connection with a cheating and theft case registered at Surankote police station, a police spokesperson said.
According to police, the investigation found that Ahmed allegedly targeted ATM users, particularly at machines without security guards. He would offer assistance during transactions, observe victims entering their PINs and then allegedly exchange their ATM cards with another card without their knowledge.
Police said he subsequently used the swapped cards along with the observed PINs to withdraw money from the victims’ bank accounts.
Investigators also found that the proceeds from the alleged fraudulent withdrawals were used to procure heroin, which Ahmed allegedly consumed and supplied to others, indicating a link between the financial fraud and drug trafficking, the spokesperson said.
Police said the accused has also been linked to several other cases, including financial fraud and drug peddling registered at Surankote police station last year, besides a separate drug-peddling case registered at Poonch police station.
Several complaints relating to similar ATM frauds are also under investigation, with police probing possible links to other incidents, the spokesperson said.
Ahmed is currently on police remand and further investigation is underway.
