The number of credit-fraud victims who patronized a Sierra Madre gas station under investigation has grown to 230 victims, police said Wednesday.
Police are seeking to question the owner of EVG Quality Gas at 50 South Baldwin Ave., which closed down over the Christmas holiday, said Chief Marilyn Diaz of the Sierra Madre Police Department.
Diaz said she expects the number of victims to grow as customers who bought gas at the station within the last six months check their credit card statements. Losses are already running in excess of $60,000.
Police say 75% of the victims are local residents who used credit cards at the station. Diaz said the fraud scheme does not involve any other stations in the city, and officers have checked for so-called credit-card skimmers on gas station pumps, which surreptitiously record users’ credit card information. No skimmers were found.
The first victim reported an identity theft to police Dec. 27 after using her credit card at the station.
Category: Identity Theft Watch