Woodbury bank teller discovers credit scam (He didn't look Italian)

Waterbury Republican-American ^ | 01/03/04 | Chris Gardner

[Holly_P]

WOODBURY — A bank teller probably saved Discover Card at least $4,300 Friday afternoon, police said.

The unidentified teller at Banknorth on Main Street South refused to give a cash advance to a man even though the transaction had been approved by the credit card company, police said.

"She was suspicious," said officer Jody Rockhill, who is investigating the case with assistance from the U.S. Secret Service and FBI.

Police said the man walked into the branch at 1:15 p.m. and presented the teller a Discover credit card. Showing a New York driver's license bearing the same name and a photograph that resembled him, the man requested a $4,000 cash advance. He later upped the request to $4,300, police said.

The teller was suspicious because the name on the credit card and driver's license was Italian, and the man, who was black, did not appear to be of Italian descent. The teller requested a second form of identification, but the man did not have one.

She ran the request through her computer, and it was approved but decided to consult with her manager, who had someone call the fraud prevention department at Discover.

Police said the operator at Discover asked the teller to stall the man while the company contacted the card's owner. They reached the man, who said he was not in Woodbury.

The man who presented the card eventually left the bank in a white minivan, police said. The bank alerted Woodbury police and state police at Troop L, which issued an all-points bulletin for the van, which reportedly headed south on Route 6 toward Southbury.

Southbury police set up posts on

Route 6, but the van was not located, police said. Its license plate, LFX78F, was registered to a Mercedes Benz from New Jersey.

Police described the man as having short cropped hair, about 35 to 40 years old, 5 feet, 10 inches tall, and weighing about 180 pounds.

Police suspect the credit card and driver's license were fake.

Officer Rockhill said all Banknorth tellers had received an e-mail warning of scams involving credit cards. Police said there were similar incidents reported in the Hartford area and another in Woodbury last month.

"According to Banknorth, this is some sort of national thing that's going on," Resident Trooper Sgt. Paul Hufcut said.

Rockhill credited the teller for being alert. "She saved Discover Card $4,300," he said.

[Snickersnee]

Ah-HAH! Profiling, eh? Johnnie C., Al S. and Je$$ie will be on the scene shortly!

[Paleo Conservative]

The teller was suspicious because the name on the credit card and driver's license was Italian, and the man, who was black, did not appear to be of Italian descent.

That's profiling!

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[Revolting cat!]

Racism. The dude was African-Italian-American.

[Boundless]

> Police suspect the credit card and driver's license were fake.

So either the crooks are getting skilled at reproducing
the anti-counterfeit features of credit cards and
licenses (such as the holograms), or tellers aren't
highly trained in how to recognize flat 2D forgeries.

[Revolting cat!]

Are Italians Asian-American, by the way?

[Holly_P]

Somebody better ping J. J. and the rev Al.

[ErnBatavia]

The teller was suspicious because the name on the credit card and driver's license was Italian, and the man, who was black, did not appear to be of Italian descent.

I used to have a boss, Boston Irish, who said when they were kids they referred to Italians as "Darkies".

[Senator Pardek]

She's prejudiced against Italians. Can you believe that? In this day and age, a Jew broad, prejudiced against Italians!

[SauronOfMordor]

Hmmm. Doesn't Al-Queda have some people who are talented in the area of conterfeit IDs?

[cyborg]

LOL!

[breakem]

not so fast, my best friend at work is Italian-African-American. He was born of Italian parents assigned to Ethiopia. He puts African amercian on all his state employment documents and drives everyone crazy.

The teller did a good job, but it's easy to understand how some black guy could be Italian.

[cyborg]

When I used to work in department store, I asked EVERYONE for ID. She just happened to be lucky, but she fancies herself to be arbitor of who looks like what.

[breakem]

My son is making his tuition behind the counter at Bank of America after 4.5 years in the Marines including two embassies. He has stopped a couple of these scams solely on intuition. Emplorers need to screen for that skill : )

[cyborg]

Intuition is big part of it yes. It's not only about someone looking like their name. My mother is asked for ID by snotty salesgirls who think her card is stolen because it's a high limit card. She was lucky, but not everyone carries more than one piece of photo ID so what would she have done if it really was the guy's card?

[breakem]

a couple of times in my life I've been questioned in stores because my drivers license had expired. I mailed in the renewal but got it a few days after my birthday. I argued with the clerk that I was using the card for ID and that they didn't need to enforce the state vehicle code unless they were designated to do so by some law enforcement agency. The manager would approve the transaction, but I liked the fight.

[csvset]

Attsa matta fo' you? Attsa matta fo' me?

[Brainfog]

Police suspect the credit card and driver's license were fake.

Is Chief Moose at work here?