Mauldin Police detectives have their hands full with a string of debit card thefts over several months, where victim's numbers are being used in states across the country. "It's very difficult to track," says Detective Ben Ford. He says he's seen at least a dozen cases in several months. The thieves are obtaining the numbers, likely through skimming devices at local gas stations or ATM's, then selling the numbers on the web in "online chat rooms" according to Ford. "They're probably selling these numbers for a few dollars," he says. The culprits then create an entire new card with the stolen number, according to investigators.
For Lynn Shumpert, it couldn't have happened at a worse time, just two days before Christmas. "You never think its going to happen to you," the Simpsonville resident says. Shumpert went online to purchase something just two days before the holiday, and says her card was declined. "I immediately knew something was wrong," she says. A quick check of her bank account revealed 11 transactions for more than $500 in New York. "We're sitting here in Simpsonville SC, and they're doing this in New York."
Investigators have a few leads, but tracking the thieves will be tough, says Ford. "It's so widespread."
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