June 28, 2010
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News: Credit Card Fraud; How Do They Do It? 57
An Oklahoma State University (OSU) former employee racked up thousands of dollars on the school's credit card. While employed as a Senior Financial Assistant in the OSU Chemistry Department, Cynthia Low used the school's credit card to purchase a large number of personal items including lingerie, video games, DVDs, romance novels, diet pills, beauty products and children's toys. Carrie Husley-Greene, spokesperson for OSU, said the university had not yet totaled the exact amount that Low had charged to the university's credit card but they are in the process of totaling up the exact amount. Once the university has completed its investigation, they expect to turn over all their findings to the Payne County District Attorney for his review and possible criminal charges to be brought up against Low. After learning of the card abuse, the university has been conducting an extensive investigation into all P-card spending and has put more safeguards in place to prevent this from happening in the future.
In the Washington, D.C. area, a security guard stole over 200 credit card numbers to pay for personal bills. Dawn Marshall, a Georgetown area security guard ran a sophisticated theft ring that stole individual's credit cards and then used them to pay off other individual's bills while charging them half the amount with cash payment. Marshall along with an accomplice also used the stolen personal information to open up fraudulent card accounts and used them to rack up thousands of dollars for personal use. Marshall has been charged in with fraud, aggravated identity theft, mail fraud and conspiracy. If convicted, she could face more than 30 years in prison.
If you're looking to make points with the girlfriend's mother, you probably don't want to do it the say Timothy L. Hahn did. The Fort Walton Beach, Florida man stole his girlfriend's mother's credit card and used it to rack up over $700 to call adult telephone services. Hahn made 14 calls with the victim's card before being identified on a recording of one of the phone conversations. Hahn wrote his victim a letter of apology; however, it didn't help his case much. He has been arrested and charged with 14 counts of fraudulent use of a card.