Users suffer as ATMs become crime hubs

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The escalating crime graph in the capital has reached an all-time high. The latest to join the list of security lapses are the ATMs which are adding to the woes of Delhiites. In two separate incidents, complaints were recently lodged with the police as residents were cheated of `1 lakh and `56,100. From the absence of guards to the pathetic state of ATM outlets and no helpers at these ATMs, Delhiites feel that carelessness and lack of security measures are leading to such incidents.
Sharing her experience, PR professional Anuradha Pundir says, “Most ATMs don’t work especially the touch-screen ones. So sometimes even when you punch in the amount or your password, these machines ask for an input. In a state of confusion, when someone asks for help, he or she is duped.”
What’s appalling is that even the guards at most ATMs are not well-equipped and there’s no security for someone who wants to withdraw a huge amount. And even as most ATMs have notices, requesting people to stand in a queue, many flout this norm openly. Nitish, an MBA student says, “I was withdrawing money at this ATM in Sarojini Nagar market, when two men walked in. It was scary, as I had just withdrawn `10,000 and as I felt one of them standing behind me I immediately cancelled the second transaction and left. Strangely, there was no guard outside.”
Some also lament that most ATMs don’t have security personnel or offer assistance. ATMs are widely used by people on a daily basis and there are times when some face problems tackling the machines and don’t understand the procedure and there’s nobody to ask for help. “I was at the Citibank ATM in Rajouri Garden market a few days back and there was no guard. I asked for help as I didn’t know how to operate the machine and a day later when I checked my account, `5,000 was withdrawn. I immediately blocked my account,” says Asha Dhingra, a government employee.
There have been situations where people weren’t able to withdraw money but money was siphoned off from their accounts. “Once I withdrew money from Punjab National Bank ATM, the amount was withdrawn but it didn’t come out. I rushed to the branch and they addressed my query but what if the amount had come out later in my absence? It could have been easily stolen. The condition of many ATMs in the city is pathetic,” says Poonam Chaudhary, a railway employee.