https://chicago.suntimes.com/2023/12/8/23988638/bankjacking-banking-apps-venmo-zelle-cellphones-robberies
‘Bank jackings’ in Chicago see robbers
drain victims’ accounts with their phone apps
Chicago Sun-Times, by Frank Main *
n Chicago, the robbers often wear the kinds of masks that have been common since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. So, even when the police can trace where a money transfer ended up from someone’s phone, the victim often can’t identify the assailant.
Posted By: Imright, 12/9/2023 9:36:44 PM
You know about carjackings. Now, you also need to be wary of “bank jackings.” Millions of Americans whip out their phones to pay for everything from dinners to vacation rentals using banking apps like Zelle, Venmo and Cash App. But that convenience is fueling a new kind of robbery. In Chicago and other cities, gunmen have been forcing people to unlock their phones with their pass codes or technology that recognizes thumbprints and faces, according to police.Once in, the robbers drain victims’ bank accounts. The payoff is often $1,000 or more — a lot more than criminals typically score by just stealing a wallet.