A Massachusetts man says he fell victim to a scammer while trying to make a withdrawal at an automated teller machine around the same time a similar scenario happened to a woman in Boston late last week.The man, named Don, said he was at the remote walk-up Bank of America ATM on Bussey Street in Dedham, which is in the parking lot for the CVS Pharmacy at Della Park Plaza, when he began having some trouble with his transaction Friday afternoon."I think it might have been my ATM card was getting stuck, and he came over and he offered help," Don said.That man, who Don thought was a good Samaritan, turned out to be a scammer who swapped Don's debit card with a random card.According to Don, the scammer used his debit card to make three separate withdrawals and cash checks at bank branches. Don said he lost a total of $12,000 as a result of the scam."I guess you have to be very, very vigilant, and of course, I thought I was," Don said.Don's case is startingly similar to what happened to Megan Bates at a Bank of America ATM in East Boston.Bates said she withdrew cash to pay for lunch Friday afternoon when a man claimed there was something wrong with the ATM and that her transaction had not closed. The man got a hold of Bates' debit card under the guise of helping her and swapped it out for another card. The scammer in that case made three separate withdrawals from Bank of America banks in Boston, and Bates lost a total of $12,000."I fell for it. I don't know why I fell for it," Bates said."I never realized what was going on, and I guess she didn't either," Don said.Robert Siciliano, an identity theft and cybersecurity expert, said these crimes are a popular form of ATM skimming, where all that thieves need is a person's debit card and PIN."There's no question about it, this is part of an organized crime ring," Siciliano said.When it comes to the checks that were cashed using Don's card, Siciliano said they were stolen checks written out to a person who shared Don's name."Could have been from anybody," Siciliano said.Bates had her stolen funds restored by Bank of America, and Don is hoping the bank does the same for him.Dedham police Chief Michael d'Entremont said they are investigating what happened to Don, but it is unclear if the two incidents are connected.
DEDHAM, Mass. —
A Massachusetts man says he fell victim to a scammer while trying to make a withdrawal at an automated teller machine around the same time a similar scenario happened to a woman in Boston late last week.
The man, named Don, said he was at the remote walk-up Bank of America ATM on Bussey Street in Dedham, which is in the parking lot for the CVS Pharmacy at Della Park Plaza, when he began having some trouble with his transaction Friday afternoon.
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"I think it might have been my ATM card was getting stuck, and he came over and he offered help," Don said.
That man, who Don thought was a good Samaritan, turned out to be a scammer who swapped Don's debit card with a random card.
According to Don, the scammer used his debit card to make three separate withdrawals and cash checks at bank branches. Don said he lost a total of $12,000 as a result of the scam.
"I guess you have to be very, very vigilant, and of course, I thought I was," Don said.
Don's case is startingly similar to what happened to Megan Bates at a Bank of America ATM in East Boston.
Bates said she withdrew cash to pay for lunch Friday afternoon when a man claimed there was something wrong with the ATM and that her transaction had not closed. The man got a hold of Bates' debit card under the guise of helping her and swapped it out for another card. The scammer in that case made three separate withdrawals from Bank of America banks in Boston, and Bates lost a total of $12,000.
"I fell for it. I don't know why I fell for it," Bates said.
Boston woman loses $12,000 in 'sleight of hand' scam at ATM
"I never realized what was going on, and I guess she didn't either," Don said.
Robert Siciliano, an identity theft and cybersecurity expert, said these crimes are a popular form of ATM skimming, where all that thieves need is a person's debit card and PIN.
"There's no question about it, this is part of an organized crime ring," Siciliano said.
When it comes to the checks that were cashed using Don's card, Siciliano said they were stolen checks written out to a person who shared Don's name.
"Could have been from anybody," Siciliano said.
Bates had her stolen funds restored by Bank of America, and Don is hoping the bank does the same for him.
Dedham police Chief Michael d'Entremont said they are investigating what happened to Don, but it is unclear if the two incidents are connected.
