BOSTON — Why rob a bank with a ski mask when you can allegedly do it with a fake ID, a cashier’s check, and a well-placed friend on the inside?

Federal prosecutors say six men ran a multi-million-dollar fraud ring that targeted banks across Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut — quietly draining customer accounts over the course of nearly three years.

No violence. No hacking. Just allegedly stolen identities, forged documents, and a few helpful insiders who, according to the indictment, helped cover their tracks.

The suspects:

• Phalentz Vernot, 24, of Waltham — also charged with aggravated identity theft
• Selby Okai, 23, of Worcester
• Yves Bissainthe, 23, of Randolph
• Marvin Kimani, 24, of Lowell
• Keith Wainaina, 23, of Lowell
• Victor Kolawole, 25, of Brockton

All six were arrested and appeared in federal court Friday in Boston. They’re each facing charges of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, bank fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Vernot faces an additional charge of aggravated identity theft — which carries a mandatory two-year prison sentence if convicted.

How the scheme allegedly worked:

According to the DOJ, the group stole personal information — names, birthdates, Social Security numbers, and bank account details — from real people. They then allegedly:

• Created fake IDs using the stolen names but with imposters’ faces
• Recruited people to pose as bank customers
• Drove those imposters to local bank branches to withdraw large sums via cashier’s checks
• Deposited the checks into accounts they controlled
• Transferred the money out before anyone noticed

And the most brazen part? Prosecutors say the group allegedly recruited bank employees to help them — giving them access to customer data and disabling fraud alerts that would have notified victims their money was vanishing.

This wasn’t some clumsy phishing scam. It was a full-fledged fraud operation with logistics, transport, finance, and HR.

What they’re facing:

If convicted, the defendants face:

• Up to 30 years in prison for bank fraud
• Up to 20 years for money laundering
• Mandatory 2 years (added on top) for aggravated identity theft
• Fines up to $1 million or more — depending on how much they allegedly stole

Bottom line:

It’s all still alleged — but the feds aren’t calling this a misunderstanding. They’re calling it a three-state criminal network that moved millions, stayed quiet, and may have had help from inside the vault.

The defendants say they’re innocent until proven guilty. And they are.

But if even half this indictment holds up, we’re gonna need a longer sentencing calendar.

Stay tuned.