Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy
First of all, yes — that was the Secret Service at the Duane Reade/Walgreens on Avenue B and Second Street this morning.
The Secret Service was part of a multi-agency investigation after a skimming device was discovered in the store's Citi ATM ... part of an ongoing federal investigation into fraud known as Operation Flagship.
The device — a slim, nearly invisible metal bar with a pinhole camera — was attached to the right-hand side of the ATM and designed to steal card information and PIN codes, which are then sold on the dark web.
Law enforcement officials on the scene showed me the skimmer but requested that it not be photographed or touched as the device is part of an active investigation.
The agencies involved in the operation included the U.S. Secret Service, the USSS Police and Criminal Investigation Division, and the NYPD Task Force. While the Secret Service is known primarily for presidential protection, it also investigates complex financial crimes, including fraud.
Despite the presence of multiple law enforcement agencies, operations inside Walgreens appeared to continue as usual, with staff largely unfazed.
Also, no one ran out of the store with a 12-pack of Budweiser while this investigation took place.
12 comments:
Read how some bodega owners themselves are skimming their customers:
https://www.amny.com/new-york/secret-service-new-york-sting-ebt-card-skimmers-fraud/
I’m surprised anyone’s still working at any of these agencies with all Trump‘s budget cuts.
I knew something was wrong with that ATM in that Duane Reade. I went there to withdraw some money several months ago and the credit card insert device at that ATM was very tight and I had to really struggle to get my card in. Then a week later someone withdrew $300 from my account at an ATM at a bank in Flushing Queens that I have never been too. I knew I must have been a victim of a card skimmer scheme but was not certain where it had occurred. I just never went back to use that ATM ever again. My bank reimbursed all my money and changed my account numbers. Good work by the members of this task force. Well done!!!
This is another example of the excellent and important public service and local reporting that evgrieve provides. Thank you!
Feds doing their job. Nice to see.
I would never use non-bank branch ATM’s. Even those aren’t guaranteed. Never mind the insane fees you pay not using your own bank ATM.
I only use the ATM’s inside the bank when the banks are open, not the ones in the vestibule but the bank itself. Glad there is a task force doing this to protect us.
Also at Food Emporium 71-75 Ave D according to NY!
"According to investigators, these skimmers are frequently found in lower-income neighborhoods and areas where EBT cards are commonly used. "
Why not put them in higher-income neighborhoods? Why target the poor?
I'm so sorry to read about what happened to you!
A little over a year ago there was an attempt on my card from Queens that failed. I thought it was the Santander inside the Astor CVS so I stopped using that one, but turns out it was this one!
How in the world can some crook have the time to switch this out and not get caught? No cameras? Don't ever use these ATM s folks
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