JACKSONVILLE, N.C.—A group of scammers are making their way across North Carolina using stolen credit card numbers from member accounts at Marine Federal Credit Union here.
The crooks made phony credit cards with the stolen data and are purchasing several thousand dollars worth of gift cards from local stores.
Eight suspects — five men and three women — recently reached Morganton, hitting places such as Jacksonville and Statesville along the way, according to the Morganton Department of Public Safety.
The scammers often purchase a birthday card or similar greeting card along with the gift cards so that clerks don’t become suspicious. Each gift card they purchase is usually worth $200 to $300. While in Morganton, the suspects purchased almost $5,000 worth of gift cards.
This fraud ring allegedly has made approximately half a million dollars worth of purchases across the state. Security footage has shown the scammers swiping several credit cards until one is accepted.
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