Press Releases

Credit card criminals
Sept. 26, 2009

Businesses, consumers and credit card companies are suffering millions of dollars in losses here in Southwest Florida, all at the hands of crooks using counterfeit credit cards to make high end purchases using other people’s money.

Gift cards, furniture, electronics and even booze – they’re purchases being made every day here in Southwest Florida with criminals using cloned or counterfeit credit cards. And this crime is having a huge impact on an already unsteady economy – to the tune of more than $7 million in losses in Lee County so far this year.

“There’s so many people – if you arrest one today, there’s going to be someone there tomorrow – or 2 more people there tomorrow – to pick up where that person left off," said Lee County Sheriff's Office investigator Sgt. Jonathan Washer.

Creative criminals are leaning heavily on technology to get the job done – using hand held skimmers to swipe credit card information from cards that are stolen – onto authentic looking cards then used to charge up thousands.

“They have portable computers, portable printers, portable scanners – these people can reproduce ID’s with your personal information… in their cards while you’re still in the store shopping," Washer said.

Criminals committing these crimes typically act quickly – charging up as much as they can, as quick as they can – before they get caught. They’ll often go from store to store, all in the same day, charging with confidence – using other people’s money, and good credit, to score items for their own personal gain.

Fortunately, technology can also work on the side of law enforcement – and quite often surveillance cameras will catch the crooks in the act – providing an opportunity for the public to identify them.

One woman, for example, attempted a spending spree at a mall recently, and was able to purchase more than $1,000 in gift cards and clothes at two stores.

Another man used a cloned card at two grocery stores within 20 minutes, netting hundreds of dollars in gift cars. He tried coming back to the same store two months later to repeat his crime. This time, a savvy clerk recognized him and declined the purchase.

Recently, Cape resident Nestor Dopico found himself under arrest thanks to good surveillance. Detectives say he was living off other people’s credit information, spending nearly $2,000 in two days. But his game could only be played for so long.

“We found property in the house that was purchased with stolen credit cards, and found counterfeit or stolen credit cards in his wallet in his house," Washer said.

Investigators say they hope the public will keep their eyes peeled and call Crime Stoppers if they recognize photos on the news of criminals engaged in these high dollar acts of fraud.

“That one phone call could be the break for us to put the guy in jail," Washer said.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Abbey Brown, or any other fugitive in Southwest Florida, is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS (8477). All callers will remain anonymous and will be eligible for up to $1,000 in cash rewards.