ACUSHNET, Mass. — A Brazilian man is suspected of having stolen more than $50,000 from an ATM of Acushnet FCU using fraudulent credit cards, and is further suspected of thefts in lesser amounts at banks in the area, as well.
According to court records, Rafael P. Dutra-daSilva, 27, of Miami, has been charged in New Bedford District Court with 25 counts of identity fraud, 26 counts of credit card forgery, 31 counts of credit card fraud under $1,200, 11 counts of breaking into a depository, and one count of larceny by a single scheme, the Providence Journal reported.
In total, Dutra-daSilva allegedly hit the ATM at Acushnet FCU for $50,220, authorities said.
Theft Allegedly Took Just One Month
Authorities allege Dutra-daSilva stole the cash between Oct. 26 and Nov. 24, with police alerted to the fraudulent withdrawals by the credit union. There was a total of 401 attempted transactions that appeared to be fraudulent; 286 were denied and 115 were successful, the Providence Journal said.
In an ordinary month, there would have been 10 to 20 denials, credit union officials told police in the court records, according to the report, which added the credit union noticed a pattern where the same card was used three or four times in succession, “usually resulting” in at least one denial and “usually producing” more than one successful transaction.
Police arrested Dutra-daSilva based on the credit union’s video surveillance, the publication reported.
Cloned Cards Used
According to the Providence Journal, Dutra-daSilva used “cloned” debit cards that he purchased online to make the cash withdrawals from other people’s accounts.
“When police arrested him, they found several credit cards, $7,739.95 in cash and 16 Applebees and Outback gift cards with magnetic strips on the rear of the card in a satchel that Dutra-daSilva carried over his shoulder, court records say,” according to the Providence Journal. “Dutra-daSilva admitted knowing the cards were stolen when he spoke with police, court records say. He said he bought them online and they were left for him at an undisclosed Dunkin’.”
In two separate arraignments last week, cash bail was set in the amount of $150,000 by Judges Paul G. Pino and Robert S. Ovoian.