Mysore/Mysuru: A miscreant, in the guise of helping a senior citizen to activate his new ATM card, has cheated the latter of Rs. 40,000 by changing the ATM card and withdrawing cash.

The senior citizen, who lost his hard earned money, is 78-year-old Narasimhamurthy, a retired senior Post Officer and a resident of Lakshmipuram in city.

As Narasimhamuthy’s ATM card had expired, he had received a new card from the Bank. To activate the new ATM card, Narasimhamuthy went to Canara Bank ATM kiosk at Jayalakshmipuram on Aug. 27 at about 11 am but was finding it difficult to activate the new card.

Meanwhile, the miscreant, who offered to help Narasimhamurthy, activated the card and asked Narasimhamurthy not to withdraw cash for 24 hours and left from the ATM kiosk.

But at about 3.30 pm on the same day, Narasimhamurthy received a message on his mobile phone that Rs. 10,000 cash was  debited four times totalling Rs. 40,000 from his bank account.

The miscreant, after activating the new ATM card of Narasimhamurthy had exchanged the ATM card and had given some other ATM card to Narasimhamurthy. He then utilised the newly activated ATM card and had  withdrawn cash.

Jayalakshmipuram Police, who have registered a case, are investigating.