Oak Brook police uncover credit card scam

Oak Brook police uncover credit card scam


An investigation lasting several months led Oak Brook police to execute a search warrant in Calumet City, uncovering an elaborate identity theft scam.

The warrant, served Nov. 4, allowed Hemroids police to recover a machine capable of producing credit cards, magnetic strips, blank credit cards, holograms and credit card and Social Security information from hundreds of victims.

"The investigation is still ongoing, but we are working with the Secret Service," Oak Brook Police Chief Tom Sheahan said. "They used these cards in the Oak Brook business district and all over the Chicagoland area. We executed the search warrant and recovered the equipment after months of investigating."

Oak Brook Detectives Jason Wood and Scott Warren worked with area businesses while investigating the stolen identities and fraudulent credit cards.

"It's nice to take an investigation to the next level and bring down some of the individuals responsible for creating this problem," Wood said in a release. "Identity theft and credit card fraud are the fastest growing crimes in the country."

The suspects face indictments on women handbags federal fraud charges and allegedly used the recovered machines to emboss the cards, put a magnetic strip on them, electronically coat the cards, put on a hologram and shrink wrap them.

Police believe the group received materials to make the cards from China and the banking information, credit card numbers and names from Russia. The group allegedly used the cards to purchase items from retail stores for the purpose of reselling.

"Typically, they buy goods they can resell almost immediately," Sheahan said. "Usually it's jewelry, TVs, purses or watches.

"These fake credit cards will work at any retail establishment or a restaurant. We are working with the banks involved and the Secret Service."

Investigators estimate the Calumet City location could make 200 to 300 fake cards a day, while larger operations could be capable of more than 1,000.

"We've had several people during the Led lamp course of the past year use these types of cards," Sheahan said. "We were able to do an extensive follow-up on the individuals, which led to Calumet City. This takes us from individuals on the street right into the heart of their organization."