ID theft victims piling up

Thu, 01/26/2006 - 5:12pm
By: John Munford

Police: Sharpsburg couple could face numerous charges

More and more victims are turning up as the investigation into financial identity fraud continues on a Sharpsburg couple that used information pilfered from the Best Buy store in Peachtree City, police said.

Ultimately, the charges against Charles Williams, 28, and Brenda Williams, 26, could range into the hundreds, said Peachtree City Police Chief James Murray.

In almost all of the cases, fraudulent credit cards were applied for online at the Peachtree City Library, Murray said. Police found fraudulently obtained cards at the couple’s home, and a dozen credit applications. Charles Williams, who worked at Best Buy, was in a position to receive credit applications, police said.

Both suspects stole copies of the applicants and targeted victims who had high incomes, police said. Some of the cards found by police had already been used to purchase DVDs, electronics and pet supplies.

Because the cards were issued to a special “drop box” instead of a the victims’ regular mailing address, there was no way for the victims to know their identity had been stolen until well after the crime took place, Murray said.

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