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NYPD says scammers keep tricking seniors into handing over ATM cards, swipe more than $50K
By
Brittany Kriegstein
Published Jul 1, 2025
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By
Brittany Kriegstein
Published Jul 1, 2025
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Police are looking for three people they say stole tens of thousands of dollars from elderly New Yorkers at banks on the Upper East Side over the past two months.
According to NYPD officials, the trio — two men and a woman — victimized people in their late 80s and early 90s by approaching them inside the banks, offering to help them use the ATMs, swiping their credit cards while they’re distracted and making unauthorized transactions using their accounts.
The nine separate incidents all occurred in May and June, between the hours of 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., police said. The first victim police described was an 87-year-old man who was robbed of $6,000 at a Chase Bank on 3rd Avenue and East 65th Street on May 8, while the most recent was a 93-year-old woman who had $1,500 stolen at a Citibank on Lexington Avenue and East 86th Street on June 26.
The thieves’ other targets included seniors at Chase Bank branches at York Avenue and East 79th Street, 1st Avenue and East 71st Street, 3rd Avenue and East 90th Street and 2nd Avenue and East 86th Street, police said. In each instance, they fled in an unknown direction.
According to police reports, the thieves stole more than $50,000, total. None of the victims were injured in any of the incidents, officials said.
Grand larceny — a felony theft charge that applies when someone steals property worth more than $1,000 — is down about 7% so far this year from the same time period last year, according to police data. However, grand larcenies are up 5% in the 19th precinct, which encompasses Manhattan’s Upper East Side. More than 770 incidents have been reported in the precinct so far this year, according to CompStat.
Police are asking anyone with information to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit tips via the Crime Stoppers website at crimestoppers.nypdonline.org or via @NYPDTips on X.
This is a developing story based on preliminary information from police and may be updated.
Tagged
manhattan
public safety
Brittany Kriegstein
Brittany Kriegstein covers all breaking news around New York City, with a focus on crime and gun violence. Got a tip? Email Brittany at [email protected].
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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