Security

NYPD warns of ATM scam targeting the elderly

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April 12, 2023

The New York Police Department is warning residents of an ATM scam that specifically targets the elderly.

In the scam, the criminal places a few dollar bills on the ground behind someone using an ATM. They then tap them on the shoulder and tell them they dropped some cash. When the victim reaches down to pick up the cash, the criminal will swap their card with a dummy card, according to a report by NBC 4 New York.

Once they have access to the card, the criminal then use it elsewhere to steal money. Police have said there have been more than 40 cases of the scam so far.

Brian Eng, NYPD deputy inspector, said the criminals are organized into teams of two to four people, each with specific roles.

"They're well-oiled like a NASCAR team. They communicate via headphones or Bluetooth devices with phones. They know exactly what their role is," Eng told the news outlet. "The distractor or card swapper or the spotter because they need the victim's PIN numbers."