4 Charged in San Fernando Valley "Skim" Scam after milking $400k from a Citibank ATM

Source: KTLA News
Complete Item: http://www.ktla.com/news/landing/ktla-atm-scam,0,6322452.story

LOS ANGELES - Four San Fernando Valley men are charged in an alleged electronic crime scheme in which more than two dozen victims lost more than $400,000 via phony ATM withdrawals.  Oganes Tangabakyan, 31, and Edgar Yerkanyan, 25, both of Sherman Oaks, Aznaour Poghosyan, 26, of Tujunga; and Vahe Hovsepyan, 33, of Reseda, are scheduled to be arraigned May 28 at the downtown Los Angeles courthouse on the 57-count complaint.

The investigators also seized several late-model, high-end automobiles
and more than $200,000 in cash -- most of it in $20 bills, officials said. 


The District Attorney's Bureau of Investigation began investigating the
case last August after being informed by Citibank of possible ATM fraud,
according to the District Attorney's Office.


The defendants allegedly gained access to ATM personal identification
numbers through skimming devices placed on debit card point of service
terminals and ATMs in Southern California and at least one other state.


Bail was set at $1 million each for the four men, who were arrested
Tuesday.

San Fernando Valley ATM Scam, Phony ATM Withdrawals, Citibank