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ATM "Skimmers" Take $100K From S.I. Bank

2008_12_sovatm.jpgYikes: Thieves who targeted a Sovereign Bank on Staten Island's South Shore stole over $100,000 from customers' accounts. The Staten Island Advance reports that one victim, Tom Cosgrove, "went online to pay his bills yesterday morning," only to find "his bank account was $1,603 lighter." Apparently the thieves were skimming: They set up scanning device on the ATM's bank card reader, as well as a camera to tape customers entering their PIN numbers. Cosgrove, whose friend had $4500 wiped out from his account, said he got to the bank at 8:45 a.m. and there were other victims waiting: "It's the holiday season and people need money." Sovereign told the Advance the incident appeared isolated and that it would reimburse victims after receiving a claim, "The bank is aware of the inconvenience this fraud may cause during this holiday week and is working diligently to assist its customers." Photo: DUMBO NYC

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Comments [rss]

  • NYRefugee

    Damn!! That's Foul!!

  • zodak

    you have to be a special kind of scumbag to rob people during the holidays.

  • Jen Chung

    This is a nightmare! I feel terribly for these people. And I bet the bank is trying to work at reimbursing them as soon as possible—it's also a PR nightmare!

  • Outter Burrougher

    and then you would ignore the part where they are addressing the issue and trying to get everything sorted out, taking your rage out on the branch workers who did not in any way contribute to your suffering instead of turning it on the criminals who stole from you. you would make things worse for everyone, including yourself - at least if the cursing and exclamation point are any indication.

  • Kyle T

    "The bank is aware of the inconvenience this fraud may cause during this holiday week.."

    If this happened to me I would feel goddamn pissed off, and then I would feel enraged that they are using the term inconvenience about it!

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