PHILADELPHIA–Approximately 400 members of Philadelphia Federal Credit Union have had their accounts hacked as the result of a breach.
According to WPVI, on Monday members came “rushing down to their branch at Standwood Street and Roosevelt Boulevard” after discovering funds had been removed from their accounts. One member told the news outlet approximately 70 members were gathered in the branch when he arrived.
In a statement, Philadelphia Federal Credit Union said, "On July 8, PFCU officials discovered potentially fraudulent activity involving a small percentage of members' debit cards. While this incident is not the result of an internal PFCU breach, PFCU's security and loss prevention specialists are working diligently to determine the cause of the incident and have notified the approximately 400 members whose account information may have been compromised. PFCU has issued new debit cards to these members and will reimburse them for any fraudulent activity that may have occurred."
Members reported numerous unauthorized withdrawals, typically anywhere from $200 to $500, with WPVI quoting members as saying the withdrawals took place at ATMs belonging to PNC Bank, Wells Fargo and Bank of America at different locations.
No arrests have been made and authorities did not release details around how the crime may have occurred.
Skimmers Hit Members in Tennessee
Separately, in Bristol, Tenn., police are alleging a pair of suspected illegal immigrants are behind the theft of thousands of dollars from ATMs.
According to the Bristol Tennessee Police Department, they were alerted by Knoxville TVA Employees Credit Union that two men had used several different cards to withdraw large amounts of cash on a Saturday and had now returned to withdraw more money.
Police said when they arrived they spotted a white Mazda CX-5 pulling away from the ATM, with the suspects, identified as Vicktor Frana and Ambroz Bojan, then apprehended during a traffic stop. During the traffic stop, police said Frana presented an international driver's license to identify himself, while Bojan presented a Czech Republic ID card. The BTPD said both men later admitted to being in the United States illegally.
Cloned Cards
The suspects allegedly siphoned the money through the use of "cloned" debit and credit cards after the victims’ account information was obtained by what is suspected to be a skimmer.
Police said a consent search of the vehicle allegedly located 150 plastic prepaid or gift cards, a plastic bottle stuffed full of ATM receipts, and a bag containing $8,164. Police say they also discovered that the Mazda's rental car registration from Georgia had been covered up with a fraudulent temporary tag.
Frana and Bojan allegedly gave written statements admitting to using the cloned cards to obtain cash. They were arrested and each charged with 150 counts of criminal simulation. Police said thus far they have not confirmed the men are who they claim to be.