STRATEGIC PARTNERS
March 5, 2002
PEQUANNOCK, N.J. -- Police and bank security workers are looking for a couple who allegedly stole $5,000 from a Pompton Plains man by rigging an ATM so his card got stuck, according to New Jersey Online.
The incident occurred when the victim, who was not identified, tried to use an ATM at a First Union Bank branch. The victim told police he could not access his account and the machine kept his card. A man and woman appeared and offered assistance. When they apparently couldn't help, the victim left the bank.
Two days later, after being notified by the bank that $5,000 had been taken from his account, the victim contacted police. First Union security told police there have been a series of similar ATM scams across the Northeast.
In the scam, the ATMs are rigged to jam the card when the subject attempts to use it. The suspects will come along, acting as though they want to help, and suggest that the victim try using his PIN again. The suspects memorize the PIN and wait for the victim to leave before freeing the card.
Police are reviewing bank surveillance tapes in the New Jersey case.
