Massive credit card fraud investigated at Sierra Madre gas station

Crime is rare in Sierra Madre, so 175 cases of fraud involving a local gas station is sending ripples through the tiny foothill community.

Sierra Madre police say most of the victims are local residents who use credit cards at EVG Quality Gas, and investigators expect to find more.

The first victim reported an identity theft to police Dec. 27 after using her credit card at the station at 50 S. Baldwin Ave.

By noon Monday, Sierra Madre police officers had received more than 175 fraud reports linked to EVG. The total loss exceeds $49,000.

About 75% of the cases involved a single fraudulent transaction at the station known for less-expensive gas than other brands.

Most of the multiple-transaction cases involved ATM and retail transactions. Six cases involved a half-dozen transactions each, and one involved nine transactions.

The largest loss from an individual case was $3,782.

Sierra Madre detectives have served a search warrant and are interviewing people, and several law enforcement and regulatory agencies are providing additional resources.

Police Chief Marilyn Diaz is warning anyone who used a credit or debit card at EVG to check their statements back to at least June 2010.

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-- Richard Winton

Comments

[Joe]

NEVER, EVER use a credit card or debit card at a gas station.

[Mark H]

@Joe, you can safely use a credit card at gas stations, since you aren't liable for unauthorized charges, and it's not your money being taken at the time of purchase (unlike debit cards, which can be a problem).

Always, ALWAYS check your credit card statements.

[imho]

[[Always, ALWAYS check your credit card statements.

Posted by: Mark H | January 04, 2011 at 11:11 AM]]

pay your bill on line. while on the site, view your charges and sort by vendor. unusual merchants will pop out.

[David]

Never go to a generic gas station like that, use the big names and you should be fine.

[imacobru]

Had a similar thing happen where I live in South Orange County about 10 years ago. A local Gas Station hired one of the local kids who worked as a Cashier. The kid would have a customer walk in and hand him their Credit Card, he would swipe it, (But swipe it again with a hand held CC reader.), the Customer would walk away and think nothing of it. It took about two or three weeks for theft to be discovered. The kid was selling the CC numbers to his buddies and using the numbers to buy stuff on line or over the phone. He WAS one of the local 'Good Kids' and his Parents defended him all the way to Jail. I think he had to make complete restitution and pay a hefty fine. I remember reading something about him a few years back about how he could not find employment and he felt it was not fair on how he was now treated like a 'Real' crimminal...which he is, a REAL convicted crimminal. Hope the Cops catch the people responsible, charge, prosecute and convict them accordingly.

[Macca Doo]

Gee, I wonder who owns this gas station aka Ripoff station?

[Kau Phaart]

I live in Sierra Madre, and first of all, crime is NOT rare here, AT ALL!! daytime burglaries are occurring almost daily, cars are broken into every night. The last time i visited the gas station, the clerk said "credit cards ONLY", no cash, no debit cards. When I walked into the police station and reported this to the Sierra Madre Police Department they couldn't be bothered... "meh, no real crime there".....BUT once one of the cops got ripped off NOW its a problem. And Joe - you are correct - NEVER use a credit card (PERIOD!).

[Lowint]

Now a days there are many credit card fraud and skims that are very hard to be figured out. A credit owner should always be alarmed in any place where they are using there cards.