A suspected ATM fraud has raised concern among bank customers in Assam’s Hailakandi district after several users allegedly found that money had been deducted from their accounts even though they did not receive the cash requested from an SBI ATM.
The incident reportedly occurred at an SBI ATM located near the Public Health Engineering (PHE) office on Public School Road. According to complaints, customers completed their transactions and received messages confirming that the requested amount had been debited from their bank accounts. However, the cash reportedly failed to emerge from the machine’s normal dispensing outlet.
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A preliminary inspection has raised suspicions that an additional concealed box had been placed inside the ATM’s cash-dispensing section. The alleged setup may have prevented the cash from reaching customers even after the ATM processed their transactions successfully.
Initially, some affected customers reportedly believed that the ATM was suffering from a technical malfunction. As a result, they left the location without immediately reporting the matter. However, suspicion grew when one customer examined the dispensing area more carefully and allegedly noticed an unusual additional structure inside the cash outlet.
The discovery was subsequently brought to the attention of bank officials and the police. Authorities reached the ATM and began examining the machine to determine how the suspected device or box was installed and whether it was deliberately used to intercept cash.
Investigators are now expected to examine CCTV recordings from the ATM premises and surrounding areas. These recordings could provide crucial clues about individuals who may have tampered with the machine. Authorities are also likely to verify transaction records to determine how many customers may have experienced similar problems.
Several questions remain unanswered, including when the concealed box was installed, who placed it inside the ATM and how long the alleged arrangement remained undetected. Investigators are also examining whether the incident was an isolated case or part of a wider organised fraud operation.
The bank and police authorities are expected to establish the exact nature of the suspected fraud after completing their examination of the ATM, transaction records and available surveillance footage. Customers who believe they were affected are likely to be asked to provide transaction details to assist the investigation.
