2 People lose more than $10K each in ATM related scam

28 Jun 2024 · 2 min

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WCBB NewsCenter 5 reporter Mary Salas covers two recent ATM fraud incidents that occurred on the same Friday. In Dedham, a man pretended to help a man named Don whose Bank of America debit card appeared to be stuck; the helper swapped Don’s card for a random one, then used the stolen card and PIN to withdraw cash and cash stolen checks. In East Boston, a similar scheme targeted Megan Bates, who also had her debit card taken by a helper and lost $12,000. Security expert Robert Siciliano explains the method as a form of ATM skimming that requires only the victim’s card and PIN, and suggests it is linked to an organized crime ring. Bank of America restored the full amount for Megan Bates, and Don hopes for similar restitution. The segment emphasizes vigilance and warns viewers about the prevalence of this scam.

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This is the alleged scene of the crime here in Dedham. Police are investigating both incidents. It's not clear yet if they're connected.
I guess you have to be very, very vigilant, and of course I thought I was, but—
Don has asked that we not use his last name, but he wants to warn others about an ATM scam that cost him $12,000. It happened last Friday afternoon at this Bank of America ATM on Bussey Street in Dedham.
Having some kind of trouble. I think it might have been my ATM card was getting stuck, and he came over, he offered help.
He turned out to be a scammer who swapped out Dawn's debit card for some random card, using Dawn's card to withdraw money not only from another ATM but to cash checks in actual bank branches.
Chances are the checks that were cashed were stolen checks that were written to the individual's name whose card was stolen. Could have been from anybody.
Security expert Robert Siciliano says this crime is a popular form of ATM skimming where where all thieves need is your actual debit card and your PIN.
There's no question about it, this is part of an organized crime ring.
Dawn's case is startlingly similar to what happened to a woman at a Bank of America ATM in East Boston, also last Friday. I fell for it. I don't know why I fell for it. Megan Bates told NewsCenter 5 a man offering to help her also took her debit card and quickly went on to drain money from her bank account. $12,000, the same amount stolen from Don.
I never realized what was going on, and I guess she didn't either.
Now, in Megan Bates' case, Bank of America restored all of her money. Don is hoping the bank will help him as well. We're in Dedham tonight. I'm Mary Salado, WCBB NewsCenter 5.