FREMONT — Police detectives are investigating a report of credit card fraud allegedly perpetrated against a developmentally disabled city resident that appears to have created a debt of more than $20,000 in her name.
An investigator for the Clearwater Council of Governments reported her findings to Fremont police detectives, alleging that someone had opened numerous credit card accounts in the woman’s name and racked up the debt.
The Clearwater Council of Governments, based in Oak Harbor, is an association of nine county boards in the region dedicated to helping residents with developmental disabilities shape their own lives through community living choices. The council also investigates complaints of abuse and neglect toward developmentally disabled residents.
The council includes Crawford, Erie, Huron, Marion, Morrow, Ottawa, Sandusky, Seneca and Wyandot counties.
The 33-year-old alleged fraud victim is a client of the Sandusky County Board of Developmental Disabilities, according to police reports.
The investigator told police the credit card accounts were opened between 2004 and 2009 and have since been defaulted upon because of the large debt. She said she believes the more than $20,000 in financing was obtained without the victim’s authorization.
Investigations have revealed that some payments had been made on the accounts, though payments eventually stopped and allowed the debt to add up, according to police.
Fremont police Detective Sean O’Connell said he has a few people of interest and is working to track down whoever opened the accounts and made purchases on them.
No suspects have yet been identified, O’Connell said.
Article source: http://www.portclintonnewsherald.com/article/20101230/NEWS01/12300313/Disabled-Fremont-woman-alleged-victim-of-fraud
Category: Identity Theft Watch