LEE COUNTY, Fla.- Authorities are looking for a man who's cashing in on a tax fraud scheme. Investigators say the man used tax refund debit cards to steal thousand of dollars in cash from Lee County ATM's.
Over a period of 20 minutes, the individual made 18 transactions, at which time he was able to obtain approximately $8,000. And that was only his first withdrawl.
Authorities say the man used dozens of tax refund debit cards to empty out the machine at the First Community Bank of Southwest Florida off Daniels Parkway.
This is someone who took the time to actually conceal their identity by covering up the camera, and he cleaned up his area after he left and took the cover he used with him. But this crook is seen by surveillance cameras again, only days later, last week. This time he took $4,300 from a second First Community Bank ATM at the Forum in Fort Myers.
Investigators say he got the pre-paid cards by filing fraudulent tax returns at H & R Block and Turbo Tax online, then withdrawing the refund. They can get their money on a pre-paid debit card with the pin that's provided. And as long as the taxes are up to date and have been paid the previous year, they're going to issue that income tax return.
Detectives believe this man knows what he's doing, cashing out the cards to their daily maximum. He takes those cards to an ATM and withdraws the maximum amount for the day, which is generally $400 dollars.
Deputies hope his quick faceshot ends his tax season.
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