PURCELL, OK -- Even though you still have your actual credit card, people steal your card info and use it to open a new account in their name. And even when it's canceled, they still have buying power through gift cards. Thieves are cloning credit cards and spending to the limit and buying gift cards before the victims can catch them.
Detective Scott Stephens said, "By the time you find out your account has been compromised, they've already bought these gift cards, flat screen TVs or whatever."
Then the credit card holder is out of luck and sometimes thousands of dollars.
Detective Scott Stephens with the Purcell Police Department said it's a version of identity theft that has claimed countless victims.
The thief swipes someone's card to steal their information.
Then using an encoder, they copy that info on the magnetic strip of a card with their name on it.
However, the thieves were stopped at Wal-Mart in Purcell.
"The Wal-Mart loss prevention spotted them trying to use a credit card that was being rejected at different registers," said Stephens.
Police say 19-year-olds Jesus Acosta and Edwin Ortiz and 23-year-old Blas Alvarez of Houston were then seen stealing gift cards.
Then, police found they weren't just small-time thieves, but were working for a Mexican drug cartel.
Stephens said, "They're stealing your account info, buying these gift cards, turn around & buy other items & go south & sell them for cash. So they've made money."
They are funneling it directly into the drug system.
The secret service is now involved. Authorities say Federal charges are a possibility.
Detective Scott Stephens said, "By the time you find out your account has been compromised, they've already bought these gift cards, flat screen TVs or whatever."
Then the credit card holder is out of luck and sometimes thousands of dollars.
Detective Scott Stephens with the Purcell Police Department said it's a version of identity theft that has claimed countless victims.
The thief swipes someone's card to steal their information.
Then using an encoder, they copy that info on the magnetic strip of a card with their name on it.
However, the thieves were stopped at Wal-Mart in Purcell.
"The Wal-Mart loss prevention spotted them trying to use a credit card that was being rejected at different registers," said Stephens.
Police say 19-year-olds Jesus Acosta and Edwin Ortiz and 23-year-old Blas Alvarez of Houston were then seen stealing gift cards.
Then, police found they weren't just small-time thieves, but were working for a Mexican drug cartel.
Stephens said, "They're stealing your account info, buying these gift cards, turn around & buy other items & go south & sell them for cash. So they've made money."
They are funneling it directly into the drug system.
The secret service is now involved. Authorities say Federal charges are a possibility.
