April 18, 2007

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  NEWS: Station Raided After Fraud Reports

  The BP gas station at the center of a wave of fraud reports in Northamptonshire was raided yesterday, after news that more than 60 victims had their bank cards affected after fueling up at the garage. The station, located on one of the busiest roads in the city of Weedon, was raided by nine, per the report of a Northamptonshire Police spokesperson. The raids followed reports from people living in the area, credit card companies and banks that a number of people who had used their cards at the garage had money taken out of their accounts.
  
  Increasing numbers of Weedon villagers had money withdrawn from their accounts from overseas ATMs, reported The Chronicle & Echo last week. Many of the victims lost considerable sums – the newspaper reports recorded that at least one lost more than £500 from his account. That victim in particular was apprised of the lost by his bank who told him his money had been withdrawn in the Far East.
  
  A Northamptonshire Police spokesman reported that officers raided the station and confiscated several items, including computer equipment. The spokesperson said that there had been no arrests made to date, but that the investigation was ongoing. A spokesperson for the BP chain of gas stations reported that the company is working closely with police to get to the bottom of the matter. The Weedon station is independently franchised who directly employs the site team, said the BP rep, so the possibility of inside involvement is naturally being investigated. They did say, however, that all site employees are cooperating fully with police. The police rep noted that there are suspicions that this latest wave of fraud is in some way related to organized crime.
  
  
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