Elderly Customers Lose $70,000 in ATM Scam

A group of scammers has been targeting elderly customers of major U.S. banks, successfully draining a total of $70,000 from their accounts through a sophisticated ATM scheme. The scam, which occurred between May and June, involved a trio of individuals who posed as helpful bystanders at ATMs, distracting their victims while stealing their bank cards and draining their accounts.

The scammers, consisting of two men and a woman, would approach elderly individuals at ATMs, offering assistance or striking up conversations to divert their attention. During these distractions, the scammers would steal the victims' bank cards and use them to withdraw large sums of money from their accounts. In one incident on May 14th, the trio managed to steal $20,000 from a 90-year-old woman and $3,000 from an 83-year-old woman within just one hour. On June 2nd, they targeted a 71-year-old man, charging $6,000 to his account in a single hour. Another victim, an 86-year-old woman, had approximately $24,000 stolen from her account on June 19th.

The scammers were reported to have targeted customers at Chase Bank, Bank of America, Capital One, and Citibank locations in New York. Authorities have confirmed at least nine incidents of this scheme occurring between May 8th and June 26th, with the total amount stolen reaching $70,000. The police have issued warnings to senior citizens to be cautious when using ATMs and to avoid engaging with strangers who offer assistance.

This incident highlights the vulnerability of elderly individuals to financial scams and the need for increased awareness and vigilance. Banks and financial institutions should also enhance their security measures to protect their customers from such fraudulent activities. The authorities are continuing their investigation to apprehend the suspects and prevent further incidents.