Copyright held by The John Cooke Fraud Report. Reprint rights are granted with attribution to The John Cooke Fraud Report with a link to this website.
They were perfect jobs for individuals intent on perpetrating credit card fraud. First Data Corporation of Tulsa processes credit card applications for banks and mails them to customers. Four people employed by the company as contract laborers, hired through temporary agencies, helped themselves to perks that were not in their contracts. Melissa Bekederemo, a customer service representative for the company, organized a group of fellow employees in a scam that netted over $100,000 in cash advances and purchases.
Bekederemo, working with information allegedly supplied by Tina Marie Rahman, would locate dormant credit card accounts, insert new information and have new cards mailed out to cooperating members of the group. Others accused of being involved in the scam include Lucinna Wortham, Nelson Bekederemo, Donna Marie Adedibu and Lumecia Rochelle Haynes.
Melissa Bekederemo was charged with conspiracy and 12 counts of bank fraud. She has entered a guilty plea as part of a plea bargain. Wortham has already pled guilty to bank fraud and conspiracy and will be sentenced October 11 along with Nelson Bekederemo, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud. Abedibu, charged with unauthorized use of an access device, awaits an October trial date. Haynes has entered an innocent plea to a similar charge. Rahman entered a plea to charges of conspiracy, bank fraud and causing a criminal act.
© Copyright 1996 Alikim Media