The Oregon fraud gang keeps growing - 3 more busted for $150,000 in fake credit cards  Three Californians are facing criminal charges after allegedly racking up as much as $150,000 in fraudulent credit card purchases during a two-month West Coast shopping spree, according to Tigard police. Investigators are trying to determine whether the trio is linked to two men who were arrested last month on similar accusations. An investigation began when Nordstrom notified Beaverton police Nov. 18 that the trio visited a store branch in Palo Alto, Calif., used counterfeit credit cards and made returns that were refunded to an account used by Jin Hua Lin, 22, of Rosemead, Calif, according to a probable cause affidavit. Using counterfeit credit cards to steal more than $100,000 from Portland-area retailers including Nordstrom. Beaverton and Tigard police were involved in that investigation. (Source oregonlive.com)

Sears Clerk Indicted in Organized Retail Theft Spree in Salem, Mass.  Salem Sears employee accused of falsely ringing in a series of returns in order to allow others to make off with thousands of dollars in cash and merchandise could face between 3 1/2 and 7 years in prison for his alleged crimes. Echevarria was involved in at least three different instances of theft at the Salem Sears. Police have said that there were at least five different days of organized retail thefts at Sears over the summer. Police have alleged that several individuals, including Echevarria, were involved in a series of false refunds, transactions using false rewards points and falsely registered merchandise, and cash thefts totaling $2,500. (Source salem-nh.patch.com)

Framingham Police nab 3 suspects in stolen credit card crime ring - part of larger ring  Three people suspected of being part of a stolen credit card crime ring landed in custody this week after one of them took a cab from Framingham to a Nashua, N.H., Best Buy, before realizing she left her wallet behind and needed the cabbie to drive her back to Framingham. Police got involved when the cabbie on Tuesday called to report someone using a bad credit card for a fare at the Best Western on Rte. 9. Prosecutor Warren Lee said during the group's Framingham District Court arraignment on Wednesday that the group could be part of a larger credit card fraud ring. The Secret Service is involved," Lee told Judge Douglas Stoddart. "This is part of a larger fraudulent credit card investigation." (Source metrowest6dailynews.com)


Authorities search for credit card fraud suspects buying gift cards state wide in South Carolina  According to Horry County Police Department's Facebook page, authorities are looking for two men who they say have been using stolen credit card numbers to purchase gift cards throughout the State of South Carolina. (Source wbtw.com)



Thieves use counterfeit debit cards to steal thousands in stores from Georgia to Dallas, TX., to Miami  Crooks used a high tech method to steal thousands of dollars from customers at a Spalding County bank, in Horry County, S.C. Investigators said four thieves manufactured counterfeit debit cards then bought gift cards or merchandise at several stores locally as well as Miami, Fla., and Dallas, Texas. (Source myfoxatlanta.com)