Mysuru: An incident of a woman from Hunsur being cheated of Rs. 6.17 lakh by a fraudster using duplicate ATM card and Pass Book has come to light and the same has thrown a challenge to Police and Bank authorities.

It is reported that the fraudster had cheated Roopa, wife of Shivanath, a resident of Jyothinagar in Hunsur Town, while she was away in Congo and Nigeria in Africa on a business trip, by using duplicate ATM card on as many as 55 occasions during the past six months.

It is alleged that the fraudster, who knew Roopa’s Savings Bank account number with Hunsur Branch of State Bank of India, on learning that Roopa was away applied for a duplicate ATM card and Pass Book on Aug.19, 2013 and withdrew a total of Rs. 6.17 lakh in the past six months.

Roopa, who returned to Hunsur and visited the Bank on Monday, was shocked to learn that Rs. 6.17 lakh had been withdrawn from her account. On enquiry, she was told by the Manager of the Bank that her account had been handled using duplicate ATM and Pass Book.

Meanwhile, Roopa has lodged a complaint with Hunsur Town Police, who are investigating the case and launched a hunt for the fraudster.