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Beware the "ATM Not Working" Scam
By
Jen Chung
Published Feb 7, 2009
Modified Feb 7, 2009
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By
Jen Chung
Published Feb 7, 2009
Modified Feb 7, 2009
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The police are looking for four people involved in a scam they operate in bank ATM alcoves. The AP explains the scheme:
After the target puts his or her bank card into an ATM, a woman approaches and says that machine isn't working. While the victim uses a nearby machine, a second suspect watches and notes the victim's personal code.
That suspect gives the code to a third person, who then punches it into the machine the victim initially used and didn't cancel out of. Because the machine is still activated by the victim's card, the suspect is able to use the code to withdraw money.
And according to 1010 WINS, the suspects have struck at least 10 times "since October involving four different Bank of America ATM locations in the East Village, NoHo, Greenwich Village and Gramercy." Naturally, it goes without saying that you should be alert whenever using an ATM—and always cancel out of your transaction! (Here are some tips from Bankrate.)
If you have information about these crimes, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or text "TIPS" to CRIMES (274637) and then enter TIP577. And this is not the only kind of ATM scam that's pulled—there are also skimmers.
Tagged
atm
bank
crime
PIN code
scam
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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