Police: Brooklyn duo busted for identity theft for ATM scam in Bayonne

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A Brooklyn duo was busted for identify theft after getting caught utilizing an ATM scam in Bayonne, authorities said.

By John Heinis/Hudson County View

Neculai Candet, 31, and Madalina Balmus, 40, both of Brooklyn, New York, were each charged with numerous counts of identity theft, fraudulent use of a credit card, and receiving stolen property, according to Police Capt. Eric Amato.

Candet and Balmus were taken into custody at approximately 12:29 p.m. yesterday from the area of Goldsborough Drive resulting from an investigation into several acts of credit card fraud.

On April 21st at about 3:46 p.m., a 30-year-old man reported that an unknown individual utilized the ATM at a CVS, either at the 560 Avenue C or Goldsborough Drive locations, to complete four withdrawals from his bank account totaling $560.

On the same day at approximately 5:04 p.m., a 51-year-old man reported that an unknown individual utilized the ATM at a CVS located at 560 Avenue C to withdraw $200 from his bank account.

For a third time on April 21st, a 58-year-old woman reported that an unknown individual utilized the ATM at a CVS located at 560 Avenue C to withdraw $343 from her bank account.

An investigation conducted by the Bayonne Police Detective Bureau resulted in Candet and Balmus being identified as the actors.

On Friday, April 28th, the two were observed and apprehended in the area of CVS on Goldsborough Drive as they were observed utilizing the ATM.

As officers approached them in order to conduct an investigation, Candet was observed tossing a bundle of Vanilla Visa gift cards, later determined to be 23 in total, into a nearby bush.

The on-scene investigation led to the two being arrested and a search incident to Candet’s arrest led to the recovery of six receipts of withdrawal transactions from numerous banks located in numerous jurisdictions outside of Bayonne.

The recovered Vanilla gift cards were also determined to be reprogrammed with actual debit card account numbers and new personal identification numbers (PIN) linked to the victims’ personal bank accounts.

In other words, they were essentially being converted into an actual debit card capable of making withdrawals at any ATM, police said.


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