It was a warm Saturday afternoon in Gurugram. Cyber Park was its usual mix of weekend calm and corporate buzz. Rahul, a mid-level executive at a fintech firm, decided to quickly withdraw some cash before heading home.
He stepped into an ATM booth tucked in the corner of the lane, one he’d used countless times before.
He inserted his card. Nothing happened.
Rahul frowned, pressed cancel. Still nothing. His card was stuck.
“Sir, card atak gaya?” a voice asked from behind.
Rahul turned. A polite, well-dressed young man stood just outside the glass door.
“Yeah… It’s not coming out.”
“Oh, happens sometimes,” the man said casually. “There’s a helpline number pasted here. They’re quick with these things. Just call them.”
Rahul glanced at the sticker on the ATM wall. It looked official enough. “Thanks, man,” he said, and dialed.
On the other end, a helpful voice answered. “Yes, sir, this happens due to a card reader jam. We’ll help you unblock it remotely. Just confirm the card number and enter your PIN when prompted.”
The setup was smooth. Too smooth.
And by the time Rahul reached home, ₹45,000 was gone.
This Isn’t Just a Story. It’s a Pattern.
What Rahul experienced isn’t rare. It’s becoming alarmingly common.
The Tap Scam, so named because of the way scammers use ATMs, fake helplines, and a bit of psychological manipulation, has now been reported in cities across India, from Delhi to Bhopal.
Here’s the anatomy of it.
Fraudsters identify a high-traffic ATM. They tamper with the card slot, sometimes using a thin device like a “Lebanese loop” to trap your card inside.
Then they post a fake customer care number on a sticker that looks as authentic as anything the bank might use.
Once your card is stuck, panic kicks in. You see the number, call it.
The person on the other end, already rehearsed, calmly guides you to punch in your PIN.
Sometimes, they pretend to “fix” the machine remotely. Sometimes, they ask you to “verify” your identity.
Either way, once they have your card number and PIN, they’ve got access.
“Uncle, that ATM is faulty. Use the one across the road.”
In Bhopal’s Chunabhatti area, 62-year-old Harish Mehta was similarly caught. A teenager outside the booth pointed him to another ATM when his card didn’t eject.
Harish didn’t think twice. But he’d already dialed the number pasted on the booth and confirmed his PIN. By the time he realized something was off, ₹60,000 had vanished.
The Evolution: Remote-Controlled ATM Scams
In a particularly tech-savvy twist, a group in Gurugram took it a step further. They physically altered the ATM’s power supply and inserted chipsets that allowed them to control the machine remotely.
When someone attempted a withdrawal, they’d shut down the machine at just the right moment, after the money was debited but before it was dispensed.
The victim would walk away, frustrated but hopeful for a refund.
The scammer? He’d walk in right after, hit a button, and out came the cash.
So, What Can You Do?
Let’s break the fourth wall for a moment.
If your card gets stuck at an ATM:
- Do not call any number you see inside the booth. Instead, pull out your phone and look up the bank’s official helpline.
- Never share your PIN, not even with someone who claims to be a bank executive. Real banks will never ask for it.
- Inspect the ATM before use. If anything looks loose, crooked, or unusual, skip it.
- Use machines inside bank branches during working hours whenever possible.
And if you’ve already been scammed? Register with us now, and our team will assist you in reporting the case on the respective portal and guide you with the recovery process.
Final Thoughts: The Friendly Stranger Isn’t Always a Friend
The Tap Scam works not because it’s complex, but because it exploits trust, urgency, and routine. It turns your smartphone and your reflexes against you.
So the next time your card gets stuck or the screen glitches mid-transaction, pause. Think. Don’t let urgency cloud your judgment.
Rahul learned it the hard way. Let’s make sure you don’t have to.
