MBA grad cons senior citizens at ATMs, held in Mumbai

MUMBAI: A 33-year-old unemployed MBA graduate was on Wednesday arrested for hoodwinking people, mostly senior citizens, and withdrawing money from their accounts at ATM kiosks.
Ghatkopar police have arrested Tufail Ahmed Siddiqui, a resident of D’Souza Nagar in Sakinaka on charges of theft, cheating, forgery and breach of trust. Police have recovered a Honda car, two mobile phones, a laptop, 109 credit and debit cards and a motorcycle used in the crime.
Police said following an increase in thefts at ATM centres in the eastern suburbs, they scanned CCTV footage of at least five ATMS in Ghatkopar and found the accused present at all places.After collecting information about him, police raided his residence and arrested him with the incriminating material, said inspector Madan Patil of Pant Nagar police station.
Siddiqui has told police he worked in an MNC till 2018, but he was sacked after he failed to achieve the business target. Police said Siddiqui earned Rs 80,000 per month and lived a lavish life. Once he lost his job, he started targeting vulnerable people near ATMs. “On finding someone who was not familiar with using an ATM, he would help them withdraw money. But, he would make a note of the password and also exchange the card with a fake one while returning it,” said inspector Pramod Kokate. He would then withdraw money using the victim’s card. Preliminary investigations reveal his role in at least nine offences, said DCP Prashant Kadam.