Credit Card/ Debit Card Fraud Case Under Investigation in Murfreesboro

(Murfreesboro, TN) Fraudulent use of credit and debit cards continues to be a problem across the state and throughout the country, costing credit card companies, banks, merchants and customers billions of dollars annually.

Locally, Murfreesboro Police continue to receive reports of credit card fraud. In many cases, detectives are able to obtain photos of suspects who use stolen credit cards at checkout, when stores have surveillance cameras in place. In fact, that was the scenario in one of several recent fraud cases.

The MPD reports that cameras caught ‘Persons of Interest’ on camera, shortly after a woman visiting Murfreesboro had her wallet stolen. The Florida resident told officers that she was inside Dillard’s on Old Fort Parkway at Mall Circle Drive when unknown subjects lifted her wallet from her purse. The theft occurred last Friday on August 19th.

After the victim’s wallet was stolen, her credit/debit card was used a total of five times at Home Depot, which is across the street from Dillard’s. Transactions at the big-box hardware store added up to $1,800. Next, the victim’s card was used at the Finish Line inside the Stones River Town Centre. There, thieves conducted two transactions, adding another $773 to her bill. The victim suffered losses that equaled more than $2,500.

After the spending came to an end, a newer model Dodge Ram pickup truck was caught on camera leaving the area. Police also obtained photos of subjects inside Home Depot who have been labeled as ‘Persons of Interest,’ according to MPD Public Information Officer Larry Flowers.

Detectives would like to speak to the duo that were photographed as soon as possible, but they first need to positively identify them and find out where they are located. If you recognize the two females or the truck in the photo above this news story, you are asked to contact MPD Detective Ed Gorham at 629-201-5507.

Across the United States, ACI Payment Systems reported that 47% of cardholders are impacted by credit card / debit card fraud annually. The problem is even worse in Mexico, where 56% of cardholders are impacted by fraud.

Globally, credit and debit card fraud equaled losses that totaled more than $28-billion in 2020.

The penalty for credit card fraud in Tennessee varies, depending on the amount of money involved. Sometimes, suspects only face misdemeanor charges. But, if the amount of money stolen adds up to the thousands, the suspect or suspects will be charged with a felony, that can equal as prison sentence of 8 to 30-years.

SOURCE: MPD
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