July 15, 2005 Update
JC Penny 700 E. 14 Mile
A 20-year-old female from Detroit was shopping with three other females. She obtained a temporary credit card using a legitimate credit card account number then attempted to purchase a $500.00 gift card. She stated the cardholder was her father. Suspicious of the large purchase on the temporary card, the cashier called Loss Prevention personnel who followed-up with the JC Penny Credit Department. That follow-up resulted in discovery that the limit on the card had recently been increased, and the billing address changed. Two other large purchases were made against the card over the past couple of days. When approached by Loss Prevention the other three subjects quickly exited the store. The suspect claimed one of the subjects who left owed her money, and offered her the use of her uncles credit card to pay back the debt. Contact was made with the legitimate cardholder and it revealed he was not the subject in questions father nor was he the uncle of any of the other three. He had not given anyone permission to use his account. The suspect was arrested.
Home Depot
An associate received a $4,778.30 credit card order via phone for miscellaneous supplies. The caller did not provide a name, but provided a contact name for the account and the name of the person who would be making the pick up. Suspicious of fraud, the associate reported the order to Loss Prevention who investigated the situation and determined the credit card number involved had been used fraudulently at other Home Depot locations. On 7/8/2005 two males came to the store and one identified himself as the person who was supposed to pick-up the merchandise and signed the charge slip in that name. The bank that holds the credit card reported someone contacted them in June changing the address and phone number on the account from Arkansas to Belleville, MI. (The original/legitimate owner is from Arkansas.) The 38-year-old male from Oak Park who signed for the sale was arrested for Credit Fraud. His 33-year-old male associate from New Boston, MI was arrested on outstanding Friend of Court Warrants.
A complainant discovered at least 7 unauthorized withdrawals for approximately $3,700.00 from a checking account by phone-in checks and electronic debits using her checking account number.
A complainant received notice from a collection agency regarding an unpaid phone bill from 2000 for $472.19. The account was opened without the complainants permission using her name and social security number. It was billed to an address in Sterling Heights with which she is not familiar.
|
