Brooklyn police are hunting for a man they say quietly drained more than $10,000 using other people’s debit-card information late last year, while the victims’ cards never left their wallets.
According to News 12 New York, the alleged victims are two men in their 80s. Investigators say both seniors still had their physical debit cards in hand when the withdrawals were made in November and December 2025. Detectives are now combing through several of those transactions as they work to identify the suspect.
Why Seniors Are Being Targeted
National data show crimes that prey on older Americans have surged in recent years. The Internet Crime Complaint Center’s 2024 report logged more than $16 billion in reported losses to scams affecting all age groups, with seniors representing a hefty share. Federal prosecutors say they are ramping up enforcement against transnational schemes that zero in on older victims. See the IC3 report and a Justice Department press release for details on the scope of the problem and renewed enforcement efforts.
Skimmers And Cloned Cards In Brooklyn
Investigators say this latest case lines up with a pattern they have been seeing across the borough: thieves copy debit-card data, then use cloned cards to make cash withdrawals while victims are none the wiser.
As News 12 New York has reported, officers previously captured video of a suspect using a cloned card at a TD Bank near Industry City. That footage underscored just how quickly stolen card information can be flipped into cash, even when the real card never leaves the owner’s pocket.
How To Protect Your Cards
The Federal Trade Commission says a few small habits can cut your risk of getting hit by this kind of fraud:
- Check card readers for loose parts, odd colors, or anything that looks tacked on.
- Cover the keypad with your hand when you enter your PIN.
- When you can, pay inside rather than at the gas pump.
- Run your debit card as credit so you do not have to type in a PIN.
- Keep a close eye on your accounts and move fast on any suspicious charges.
For photos of common skimmers and a checklist of warning signs, see the FTC consumer alert.
If You Suspect Fraud
If you think your account has been compromised, contact your bank immediately so they can freeze cards or try to reverse fraudulent transactions. You should also file a complaint with the Internet Crime Complaint Center so investigators can spot patterns across cases and track suspects.
Quick reporting helps both victims and law enforcement and can improve the odds of getting money back. See IC3 guidance for how to report and what to do next.
