Police are looking for the man who stole a Bensonhurst woman’s identity and used it to make fraudulent purchases in Manhattan.
The victim, who lives near Bath Avenue and Bay 35th Street, discovered on Oct. 1 that someone had charged $412 to her checking account at Duane Reade stores in Manhattan, police said. But the woman still has her debit card, leading investigators to believe the thief made a copy of the card in a scam called “skimming” wherein tech-savvy thieves attach gadgets to cash machines that copy users’ debit card information, law enforcement sources said.
Police believe the man also stole money from a Queens man who discovered the unauthorized charges in November, according to a statement from police.
The first fraudulent charge dates back to July, but police couldn’t specify whether the fraudster used the Brooklyn woman’s card or the Queens man’s card, a spokeswoman said.
Police busted two Brooklyn men for possessing credit card duplication equipment after they were caught stealing parts from a Gravesend cash machine in October.
Police are asking anyone with information to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-8477, log onto the Crime Stoppers website at www.nypdcrimestoppers.com, or text tips to 274637 and enter “TIP577.” All calls are strictly confidential, police said.
