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When investigators compared the accounts to locate the point of compromise (POC), they found that each card in question had been used recently at one of three merchant locations. Victims had either eaten at a Phoenix location of the Village Inn Restaurant, shopped at the Glass Cage Sports Store or bought shoes at the Glendale Payless Shoe Source.
After investigating, police arrested Richard Earl Griffin of Phoenix, believed to be the brains behind the scheme. Others arrested, all of whom worked in either clerical or counter positions at the POC businesses, included Stacey Lynn Sheffield and Anthony Benedetto, both of Glendale, and Larry White, Harvey Washington, Monica Trammell and John Mash, all of Phoenix.
The ring would obtain credit card numbers and then would use an encryption machine to put the stolen number onto another credit card. The card would then be “tested” at a location that didn’t require the assistance of a clerk (eg., a gas pump). If the charge was accepted, the crooks would move on to a department store or other merchandise location and begin racking up purchases. Favorite buys included clothes, jewelry, gift certificates and auto accessories. It is estimated that the total amount of the fraud perpetrated by the ring may surpass $500,000.
All suspects were booked into the Maricopa County jail on charges of fraud.
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