Hundreds of EBT Skimming Scam Attacks Reported in NY’s Frum Communities

As FrumNews.com reported several weeks ago, ATM and Food Stamps (EBT) skimming scams have increased over the past several months in New York including the neighborhoods of Williamsburg, Crown Heights, Boro Park and Flatbush. Hundreds of frum residents reporting that their EBT benefits have been emptied.

Shomrim and Shmira organizations have been warning residents for the past several weeks to be cautious when at the checkout counter, they have recovered several skimming devices placed by outsiders in kosher supermarkets, thus thwarting additional scams.

Last week, five Queens residents, Ioan-Antoan Gherasim, Elvis Dan Atomei, Dan Adrian Agafitei, Bobi Borcea and Razvan Vicol, were arrested and charged with ATM skimming-related crimes. 

The five men from Queens were arrested and charged after a joint investigation by the U. S. Justice Department, FBI, Secret Service and the NYPD for allegidly engaging in an ATM skimming scheme that involved stealing account information and PINs from more than 600 unsuspecting customers at various banks. 

According to the FBI, skimming costs financial institutions and consumers more than $1 billion each year. Over 61,000 New Yorkers have been victims of EBT fraud. 

Skimming fraud happens silently and often without the victims’ knowledge. Scammers walk into stores and place hidden devices over or inside card-reading machines at legitimate retailers to copy card and PIN information directly.

In January, the New York State’s Consumer Protection Agency warned of the rise of ATM skimming attacks and gave a number of tips to avoid being scammed: 

• Inspect the card reading machine for an overlay device. Check for unusual set-ups, including abnormal bulkiness, residues, and different colors, materials, or shapes. Check to see if it’s loose around the card reader. If it moves, consider using another machine.  
• Check the keypad. Thieves may place a phony keypad overlay to store keystrokes. If the buttons look or feel different, don’t use it.
• Choose your ATM location wisely. Machines located inside banks or indoor locations are much more secure than an ATM located on the street where anyone can access it.
• Look for any hidden cameras. Thieves often place cameras near the vicinity in order to record PIN numbers. The camera may be mounted at the top or in the ceiling of a terminal. Protect yourself by shielding the PIN pad when entering a PIN number. Use your hand and/or body to cover your PIN when you type it in.
• Change your Pin on the EBT Mobile App.

For those with EBT benefits, the NY HRA has an app to track your balance and easily track your spending to spot a scam when it may happen. The app can be downloaded here.

FrumNews.com has been informed, that although this skimming scam is mostly happening at hundreds of local bodegas, Kosher grocery stores and supermarkets in Brooklyn are having their frum managers check almost daily the devices to make sure no skimmers are being placed.