Boston police are asking for help identifying a woman believed to be involved in a scam that resulted in the theft of an ATM card which she used to withdraw $12,000 during a series of bank visits. Investigators confirm the card was stolen at approximately 11:30 a.m. on June 22. Megan Bates told NewsCenter 5 last month that she was tricked into giving up her card after she used a walk-up Bank of America ATM on Porter Street in Central Square. She said a man called her back to the machine about 10 seconds after she withdrew money for lunch. According to Bates, the man said there was still money in the ATM’s cash dispenser slot and she saw a $10 bill sticking out of it. She also said the man stated there was something wrong with the ATM and pointed out a blinking red light on the machine.”He said, ‘Give me your card,’ and he took my card out of my hand and put it in the machine. He’s like, ‘Put your PIN number in.’ He’s like, ‘You have to close the transaction because it’s still open,'” Bates said. “It happened so fast, I didn’t even really think about it.” Video below: Victim describes ‘sleight of hand’ schemeBates said she thought the man was trying to help, but noticed the next day a series of three $4,000 withdrawals from her account and a card belonging to someone named Victor was in her pocket.”Somehow, between when the card came out (of the ATM) again, he switched the cards,” Bates said. “I don’t even know how he did it. Sleight of hand? I mean, the guy was a magician.””They’re obviously preying on people in a way that’s really awful by making you trust them,” Bates said. “When someone is impersonating you and taking your money out, it’s pretty shocking,” Bates expressed.Bank of America told NewsCenter 5 that the scheme was able to get around Bates’ $500 daily ATM limit because the withdrawals were made through visits to bank tellers. The photo circulated by Boston police shows a woman with dark hair and large sunglasses speaking to a teller inside one of the bank locations. She is wearing a beige or brown sleeveless top and a necklace.Boston police said detectives are actively investigating and asking anyone with information about the case to call 617-343-4234. Anonymous tips can also be made through the CrimeStoppers tip line at 800-494-TIPS or by texting “TIP” to 27463.Less than a week after Bates was victimized, another man said he fell victim to a similar scheme. The man named Don said he was using a walk-up Bank of America ATM on Bussey Street in Dedham when he had trouble with the transaction.”I think it might have been my ATM card was getting stuck, and he came over and he offered help,” Don said.That man, who Don thought was a good Samaritan, turned out to be a scammer who swapped Don’s debit card with a random card. Don later discovered four withdrawals totaling $12,000 from his account. His card was also used to cash stolen checks. “I never realized what was going on, and I guess she didn’t either,” Don said.Robert Siciliano, an identity theft and cybersecurity expert, said these crimes are a popular form of ATM skimming, where all that thieves need is a person’s debit card and PIN.”There’s no question about it. This is part of an organized crime ring,” Siciliano said.
Boston police are asking for help identifying a woman believed to be involved in a scam that resulted in the theft of an ATM card which she used to withdraw $12,000 during a series of bank visits.
Investigators confirm the card was stolen at approximately 11:30 a.m. on June 22.
Megan Bates told NewsCenter 5 last month that she was tricked into giving up her card after she used a walk-up Bank of America ATM on Porter Street in Central Square. She said a man called her back to the machine about 10 seconds after she withdrew money for lunch.
According to Bates, the man said there was still money in the ATM’s cash dispenser slot and she saw a $10 bill sticking out of it. She also said the man stated there was something wrong with the ATM and pointed out a blinking red light on the machine.
“He said, ‘Give me your card,’ and he took my card out of my hand and put it in the machine. He’s like, ‘Put your PIN number in.’ He’s like, ‘You have to close the transaction because it’s still open,'” Bates said. “It happened so fast, I didn’t even really think about it.”
Bates said she thought the man was trying to help, but noticed the next day a series of three $4,000 withdrawals from her account and a card belonging to someone named Victor was in her pocket.
“Somehow, between when the card came out (of the ATM) again, he switched the cards,” Bates said. “I don’t even know how he did it. Sleight of hand? I mean, the guy was a magician.”
“They’re obviously preying on people in a way that’s really awful by making you trust them,” Bates said.
“When someone is impersonating you and taking your money out, it’s pretty shocking,” Bates expressed.
Bank of America told NewsCenter 5 that the scheme was able to get around Bates’ $500 daily ATM limit because the withdrawals were made through visits to bank tellers.
The photo circulated by Boston police shows a woman with dark hair and large sunglasses speaking to a teller inside one of the bank locations. She is wearing a beige or brown sleeveless top and a necklace.
Less than a week after Bates was victimized, another man said he fell victim to a similar scheme. The man named Don said he was using a walk-up Bank of America ATM on Bussey Street in Dedham when he had trouble with the transaction.
“I think it might have been my ATM card was getting stuck, and he came over and he offered help,” Don said.
That man, who Don thought was a good Samaritan, turned out to be a scammer who swapped Don’s debit card with a random card. Don later discovered four withdrawals totaling $12,000 from his account. His card was also used to cash stolen checks.
“I never realized what was going on, and I guess she didn’t either,” Don said.
Robert Siciliano, an identity theft and cybersecurity expert, said these crimes are a popular form of ATM skimming, where all that thieves need is a person’s debit card and PIN.
“There’s no question about it. This is part of an organized crime ring,” Siciliano said.
