Skimmers net 5000 credit cards for two Cuban nationals
Two men who hail from Cuba face federal charges that accuse them of using credit card skimmers to steal people’s identities.The pair then used the information to make fraudulent credit cards and buy merchandise at Sam’s Clubs throughout Northeast Ohio, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Silvio Leon, 45, and Pablo Arrechavaleta, 41, were indicted this week on charges of conspiracy to commit credit card fraud, access device fraud and aggravated identity theft.
Federal prosecutors say Leon and Arrechavaleta, who both lived in Miami, were part of a group that installed credit card skimmers on gas station pumps in Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Colorado, Iowa and other places between May 2016 and June of this year. They used the stolen information to make counterfeit credit cards.
They were arrested in June and were found with nearly 5,000 credit card accounts, according to a news release. A local investigation was spurred by a skimming device found at a BP gas station on Heisley Road in Mentor in February. The device had about 1,000 people’s names and credit card numbers on it. [Source: Cleveland.com]
Wanted armed robber nabbed after shoplift call
New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) Officers responding to a shoplifting call at a Downman Road dollar store found a man wanted in connection with a prior armed robbery at the same store, according to the NOPD. Trevor West, 34, was arrested Saturday after police responded to reports of shoplifting at a dollar store in the 6500 block of Downman Road. Officers captured West following a brief search, arresting him at the intersection of Dwyer Road and Stemway Drive, the NOPD said.
West’s arrest occurred more than a week after police announced they were searching for him in connection with an October 28 holdup at a dollar store in the 6500 block of Downman. The Dollar General appears to be the only such store in that block. West was convicted last year in a January 2017 armed robbery and cutting at the Dollar General in the 6500 block of Downman Road, Orleans Parish court record show.
In that case, he tried to walk out of the store with items he hadn’t bought. When the store manager and a 36-year-old woman tried to stop him, he stabbed the woman, causing a “minor cut,” NOPD said at the time. He was booked Saturday with armed robbery with a firearm, theft, criminal trespass and a parole violation. Late Friday, he remained in the Orleans Justice Center jail with his bond set at $100,000, jail records show. [Source: NOLA.com]
Apple’s e-commerce cybersecurity is best in US
Apple is the most secure U.S. online retailer for customers, followed by Best Buy, The Home Depot, Amazon and Qurate Retail Group (owner of QVC, HSN and Zulily), according to research from LastPass by LogMeIn, a password management software company. The rankings are part of LastPass’ Online Retail Naughty and Nice List. So who’s been naughty? Topping that part of the list is e-commerce furniture company Wayfair, followed by Walmart, eBay, Macy’s and Costco.
In conducting the research, LastPass examined 17 criteria related to the account, password and website security features of top retailers. LastPass said it wanted to present consumers with guidance as to which sites best protected their personal information from data breaches. Among the criteria for the research: password requirements; the use of security questions; personal information collected; use of two-factor authentication; social media logins; and how forgotten passwords are handled. [Source: RetailDIVE]
‘Prolific’ robbery crew busted
Three suspects, up to 30 crimes. Milwaukee, Wisconsin, police say a prolific robbery crew is now off the streets. Officers were able to stop the suspects in their tracks, thanks to a vigilant gas station employee. Grafton police say two people entered the Gateway BP gas station off I-43, just after noon on Thursday, Nov. 15 and stole cartons of cigarettes.The clerks working called 911 and gave responding officers a description of the suspects, as well as the vehicle they were driving and the direction they were headed.
A Mequon police officer then spotted the vehicle on I-43 southbound near Donges Bay Road, and pulled it over near the Brown Deer park and ride. Several people remained inside while one person got out and ran off into a heavily wooded residential neighborhood. The police used drones and K-9 units to eventually find the fleeing suspect hiding in a garage in River Hills. Captain William Beauchene with the Milwaukee Police Department, says three people have been arrested… wanted for much more than just a missing pack of smokes. He says they are also connected to up to 30 strong armed robberies and retail thefts at various gas stations and Walgreens in Milwaukee and Ozaukee Counties. “This was a very prolific, we’ll call it a very prolific robbery crew that we caught,” said Beauchene. Police are not releasing the names of the suspects until they are charged. [Source: Fox6 Now]
Stolen credit cards get fraudster 30 felony charges
An Illinois man is facing 30 felony charges for using a stolen credit card last month at five different locations in northwest suburban Rosemont. Salvador Nunez, 18, of Rosemont, was charged with 15 Class 3 felonies for unlawful use of a credit card and 15 Class 3 felonies for identity theft, according to a Saturday morning statement from Rosemont police.
Authorities took a theft from a motor vehicle report on October 25, in which the person involved had a credit card stolen, police said. The credit card was used for a total of 15 transactions at the five locations in Rosemont. After reviewing surveillance video, Nunez became a suspect and was located and held for investigation Wednesday, police said. Additional review from surveillance cameras in Rosemont and interviews wth Nunez led to the 30 felony charges. [Source: ABC7 News]
Benchmark data predicts a 14% jump in fraud for the holidays
Fraud attempts will likely increase 14% during the 2018 peak holiday season between Thanksgiving Day and Cyber Monday, according to new benchmark data from ACI Worldwide. The banking solutions provider revealed its projected increase in fraud attempts based on hundreds of millions of merchant transactions, including from some the world’s leading global retail brands.
Fraud attempts are likely to peak on Thanksgiving Day as transaction volume surges 23% compared to the same day last year, according to the projections. The volume of transactions on Thanksgiving Day is expected to surge 23% compared to Thanksgiving 2017, while fraud attempts are expected to hit a high 1.80% of transactions.
Transaction volume on Black Friday will likely rise 19% in 2018 compared to 2017, with fraud attempts affecting 1.30%, according to the company. “Buy online, pick up in-store” and call centers will be areas of focus for fraudsters as cross channel fraud also continues to grow, the data showed. And the attempted fraud average ticket price, or a merchant’s average size of individual sales by credit card, is expected to increase 3% from $236 to $243, ACI said. [Source: Security Boulevard]
