HALIFAX – A woman is facing fraud charges after a man’s debit card was stolen and his bank account emptied in Halifax.
A 23-year-old man contacted police on May 25 after noticing his debit card missing and money missing from his bank account.
Further investigation revealed that the victim was in downtown Halifax in the early morning hours of May 22 when he was approached by a woman who said she was homeless and hungry. The victim used an ATM machine to get cash, then went with the woman to a nearby restaurant to buy her a meal.
While at the restaurant, the suspect allegedly stole the the victim’s debit card and later used it to empty his bank account.
Investigators arrested 52-year-old Diane Christine Kennedy of Halifax on Thursday.
Kennedy was held in custody overnight and is scheduled to appear in Halifax Provincial Court on Friday to face charges of theft under $5,000, possession of stolen property under $5,000 and fraud under $5,000.
Police are still investigating the incident, and anticipate that more charges will be laid as the accused is currently before the courts, facing several charges in relation to similar incidents.
Police say that it’s important to know that both a debit card and the PIN are required to access a bank account. The following tips will help protect you:
- Never share your PIN with anyone or keep a copy of it in your wallet/purse. Your PIN is considered confidential and should be treated that way.
- Examine your bank statements frequently and note any unusual or unaccounted activity.
- Notify the bank or financial institution if you suspect someone has tampered with your account.
- Change your PIN if you suspect someone has accessed your account.
- Protect your PIN when using bank machines by using the “hover and cover” technique – hover over the bank machine and cover the keypad to prevent someone from observing your key strokes or recording your PIN.
Investigators believe there may be more victims who have been defrauded in a similar manner. If you believe you have been the victim of a fraud, please call the Financial Crime Unit at 902-490-1985, or contact Crime Stoppers.
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