August 12, 2010
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News: Credit Card Fraud; How Do They Do It? 62
This series concentrates on credit card theft; however, today we will tell you a story about a Good Samaritan in New York City. Merrie Harris, an advertising executive was approached by a homeless man asking for money to buy a Vitaminwater and cigarettes. Harris told the man she didn't have any cash, but would let him use her credit card. The man walked down the block while bystanders watched believing Harris would never see her credit card again. Harris returned to her previous position at an inside restaurant and waited patiently for the man to return. She started getting concerned when he didn't return after ten minutes and began to worry that he might be on an expensive shopping spree. Seconds later, a voice called out to her "He's back!" Harris immediately returned outside to where the man was waiting and gave him a hug while telling him that she didn't doubt that he would return. He replied, "Of course. I'm an honest person."
In Land O'Lakes, Florida a man allegedly stole credit cards from 18 people and racked up over $11,000 in illegal transactions at the local Target store. Mircea C.Ciornei, a Romanian national was arrested after the Florida Department of Financial Services investigated that he used a card scanner to obtain the card data. According to court documents, Ciornei faces six counts of identity theft, five counts of forging credit cards, two counts of grand theft and one count of organized scheme to defraud. He is being held at the Pasco County jail in lieu of $124,000 bail.
In West Virginia a man and his three co-conspirators were arrested for allegedly conspiring to commit fraud with counterfeit credit cards at the Wheeling Island casino. Yan Hao Pan and the three others entered the casino with more than 40 counterfeit cards. According to U.S. Attorney Betsy C. Jividen Pan used one of the cards to obtain $3,000. Pan was indicted on two counts and faces 10 years in prison and a fine of $500,000.