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Now cheques being stolen from drop boxes!

Hyderabad: Thieves are now found to be stealing cheques from the drop boxes attached to the ATM centers and later encashing after manipulating the credentials. Following such cases being reported in the city, the police have asked the people to take steps to ensure that cheques are deposited at drop boxes which are well guarded. […]

By Asif Yar Khan

Published Date - 24 December 2021, 12:09 AM

Now cheques being stolen from drop boxes! — Representational Image

Hyderabad: Thieves are now found to be stealing cheques from the drop boxes attached to the ATM centers and later encashing after manipulating the credentials.

Following such cases being reported in the city, the police have asked the people to take steps to ensure that cheques are deposited at drop boxes which are well guarded.

Additional Commissioner of Police (Crimes) Hyderabad Shikha Goel said that in recent times there is a rise in cases of thieves stealing the cheques from the drop boxes ATM centers. “Usually the drop boxes are not well guarded at some places, so the thieves are stealing the cheques and after tampering it, depositing in banks. The money is later transferred to some accounts or withdrawn using ATM cards. Around eight cases were reported in the city,” said the official.

The police to prevent such instances asked the people to deposit the cheque only at well-guarded drop boxes. “People should also write on the cheque in such a way that it is difficult to manipulate the script,” she explained.

In certain instances, the police found the fraudsters had stolen the cheques from the drop boxes and after noting the down details of the bearer/ beneficiary, opened a bank account.

The police on their part are asking the banks to be careful while opening new bank accounts or hurrying up with the procedures. “Usually, after stealing the cheque the fraudsters submit some fake documents and open a bank account where the stolen cheque is deposited and gets cleared. All this happens only in three to four days, before the genuine account holders realises about the fraud,” she explained.

The police asked the banks to install tamper proof drop boxes at ATMs and advised the people not to leave blank spaces on the cheques.

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