Police alert public of theft/fraud scam

North Bay Police
News Release

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The North Bay Police Service would like to caution the public on a recent scam that is being committed in North Bay.

A team of organized criminals steal both the ATM card and the corresponding PIN number from the victim.

On the 18th of May of this year two women had their ATM cards stolen while they were at Northgate Square. They then had their PIN numbers used to withdraw thousands of dollars from their accounts as well as used to make several purchases.

The method used by the thieves is described as the following:

As a person uses their ATM card and fails to cover the numbers punched in, the thief does a shoulder surf and obtains the numbers entered. A very short time later one of the thieves then approaches the victim and distracts them while a cohort steals the actual ATM card from their purse or wallet.

Once this is done the thieves quickly empty the victim’s account and obtain merchandise or cash from this same card.

This same team of criminals is believed to have also been operating in Sault Ste. Marie.

To prevent shoulder surfing, our Police Service is recommending that you shield the keypad from view by using your body or cupping your hand.

The description of the two suspect sought in North Bay is as follows:

Male, dark complexion, 40 to 50 years old, 5’6 to 5’8 and spoke with a Greek accent.

Female, in her 40s shorter than the male and also spoke with a Greek accent.

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