Montgomery County police are urging residents to be vigilant while using the ATM at local banks as detectives investigate a scam that allegedly occurred at a Bank of America in Silver Spring in early October, police said Tuesday in a statement.
In addition, police released surveillance photos of the two suspects allegedly involved in the scam and are asking the public for help in identifying them as detectives continue to investigate.
Detectives from the MCPD- 4D PIU are investigating a bank card scam that took place in early October 2024 at the Bank of America located in Silver Spring. Detectives are asking for the public’s help to identify them.https://t.co/nfFfXzGAbk#MCPD #MCPNews pic.twitter.com/CuHFhMRWKE
— Montgomery County Department of Police (@mcpnews) December 24, 2024
According to police, the scam was first reported after a man at the Bank of America ATM in the 13700 block of Connecticut Ave. was approached Oct. 2 by two unknown suspects. The suspects advised him the ATM card slot was broken and told the man to use the tap function on his card. One of the suspects then grabbed the card from the man’s hands to “show him how to use it,” the statement said.
While the suspect was demonstrating how to use the tap function, he switched the man’s bank card for another card, which was handed back to the victim, the statement said. The man then tried to use the ATM, but found that his personal identification number (PIN) didn’t work and he couldn’t complete the transaction. That’s when he went inside the bank and realized the card he had did not belong to him and had a different name on it, police said.
Shortly after, the man began to receive notifications from the bank about withdrawals and fraudulent transactions, according to police.
Police said another man was allegedly victimized Oct. 4 while trying to use the ATM at the Aspen Hill Bank of America. He also was approached by an unknown suspect who swapped his bank card with a different card. The suspects observed the man as he entered his PIN number into the ATM to withdraw money and later, the man received notifications from the bank about withdrawals and fraudulent transactions, according to the statement.
Police said the two suspects are described as Hispanic males who spoke Spanish to the victims. Surveillance video shows that both suspects were present during both October incidents. During the Oct. 4 incident, one suspect acted as a lookout during the incident, police said.
Residents using ATMs should be vigilant, police said, and should go into the bank for transactions if suspicious people are nearby.
Police ask anyone with information about the suspects or the crime to visit Crime Solvers of Montgomery County website and submit a tip online at this link or call 1-866-411-8477. Rewards up to $10,000 are offered for information that may lead to an arrest. Tips can remain anonymous.
