Identity Theft

09/18/2012

Identity Theft

On September 18, 2012, The Northern California Computer Crimes Task Force (NC3TF), a multi-jurisdictional Identity Theft and High Tech Crimes Task Force arrested an Antioch woman, Betheny Jordan for 34 counts of Identity Theft, Commercial Burglary and Access Card Fraud after a 3-month investigation. The NC3TF began an investigation into Jordan after she was identified as a suspect in a spree of fraudulent credit card charges that occurred between January and July of this year. Jordan is suspected of using the credit cards of 43 different victims at 17 Safeway stores in Contra Costa and Alameda Counties to purchase $50,000.00 worth of various branded pre-paid gift cards. On September 18, 2012, a search warrant was served at Jordan's Antioch residence by the NC3TF where she was arrested. Information on 30 additional victims was discovered during the search. The information found included the victims' names, addresses, credit card numbers, credit card verification numbers, expiration dates, related security questions and answers, and the associated account email addresses and phone numbers. It is suspected that this information would be used to fraudulently re-encode additional cards. Numerous Visa brand gift cards were also found and seized at Jordan's residence. They are pending further examination to determine what data is actually contained on the cards. It is believed that for all of the fraudulent transactions, Jordan used other branded gift cards which were re-encoded with victims' credit card data. Of the 34 counts for which Jordan was arrested, identity theft victims have been identified in California, Kentucky, Georgia, and Pennsylvania. Jordan was booked at the Contra Costa County Jail on the above charges with bail set at $500,000.00. Anyone with additional information is urged to contact Investigator Ed Hemphill at the Northern California Computer Crimes Task Force at (707) 253-4500.

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