UPDATED Three New York Women Arrested in ATM 'Skimming' Scam

Police have arrested three New York women for their alleged involvement in an ongoing ATM scam that ended at People's United Bank in downtown Darien, early Thursday morning.

"This is a good arrest that hopefully will make a difference when it comes to the ATM skimming that really victimizes society at large," said Lt. Kraig Gray of the Greenwich Police Department.

Greenwich police say Laura Stiuca, 31 of Maspeth, NY, 48-year-old Nadia Paisci and 22 year-old Sabrina F. Matche—both of of Middle Village, NY—used a "skimming" device that uses a card scanner and a camera to capture credit card information, in the hopes of withdrawing money from numerous victims' accounts.

The Connecticut Financial Crimes Task Force has been investigating a series of ATM skimming incidents within Darien, Stamford and Greenwich over the past few weeks.

Thursday's incident which resulted in the arrest of three skimming suspects at tthe People's United Bank in the Goodwives Shopping Center ended just one of many ongoing investigations, said Lt. Gray.

Officers from the Greenwich Police Department, the Darien Police Department, Connecticut State Police, and the Connecticut Financial Crimes Task Force arrived on the scene just before 8 a.m.

The three women were handcuffed and are currently being held at the Greenwich Police Department in lieu of $250,000 bond for each suspect.

All of the suspects have all been charged with the following crimes:

• Larceny 3rd
• ID theft 3rd degree (12 counts)
• Fraudulent Use of ATM
• Forgery 2nd degree (12 counts)
• Credit Card Theft (Felony Provision)
• Unlawful Possession of Access Device (12 Counts)
• Receiving Goods by Use of Illegal Credit Card
• Unlawful Production/completion of a Credit Card (12 counts)
• Illegal use of a Credit Card (Felony Provision)

Lt. Gray says said the best way to prevent falling victim to a "skim artist" is to be cautious.

"If there appears to be any modifications made to the ATM, don't use it; and use one hand to cover the number pad when you type in your pin," he said.

According to Capt. Fred Komm, Darien Police Department's involvement in the case is only to assist the leading agency, the Connecticut Financial Crimes Task Force, who is operating out of the Greenwich Police Department.

The task force is under the direction of the US Secret Service, New Haven, Connecticut. The Task Force consists of officers from the Connecticut State Police, Greenwich Police Department, Hartford Police Department, Manchester Police Department, New Haven Police Department, Shelton Police Department, US Postal Inspectors and the US State Department, Diplomatic Security.

Keep it here at darien.patch.com for updates.