Credit Card Fraud - Need Advice

[Demiurge]

The series of events :

Get phone call, automated service, from my bank. I call them back. Upon realizing I need to give them my credit card information to have them talk to me, I realize my credit card is missing. I do not keep my credit card in my wallet as it exists solely for internet purchases, it stays on my desk by my laptop.

They explain to me that $1500 in purchases have occurred in the past 24 hours, none of which are mine. I got dates, time stamps, store names with addresses at all locations where purchases occurred.

Two of the places are gay bars. My roommate is gay, he had a new guy over a few nights ago. After a bit of detective work and getting lucky, I get on the phone with a manager of an ABC store (alcoholic beverage control, state-owned, top-tier surveillance technology on the premises). I go in, explain what happened, $400 purchase in this store, owner is pissed because he is going to have to pay the credit card company back if the guy isn't caught. Gives me HD stills of the culprit. It is the same guy that was in the house.

Guy literally went into my bedroom and swiped my card off of my desk. My bathroom connects to the hallway and my bedroom, I typically let people use it so I leave the door open, the door to my bedroom is always closed but the lock is just one of those simple button-push locks, easy to pop open (my bedroom door has a key lock on it, which seems redundant now).

The guy that stole my card is clearly rich. I have his home (parents) address and his school address. Multi-million dollar home in northern Maryland on tons of property. Kid is mid twenties and still in college (like me). Read his twitter, guy is definitely entitled spoiled prick.

I dont want any compensation, I just want this guys life to be ruined. credit card fraud and breaking and entering will ruin you forever on your record.

What do you do?

tl;dr - roommates gay friend broke into my bedroom and took my credit card and is caught redhanded with tons of evidence.

[racerevlon]

Turn is in to the CCIE fraud investigation unit and let them prosecute. Otherwise you're on the hook for the charges.

[Demiurge]

They can't prosecute without a police report. Already talked to the fraud department about this.

I can file the police report, the state will prosecute (credit card fraud, especially on state-owned store premises).

I have the option of additionally filing civil charges for the breaking and entering and credit card fraud (requires a lawyer, i don't have the time or money, broke college student).

But at least with a police report and all of the evidence he will be royally fucked for life. I have a close friend who is lead detective for my county's PD. He mostly deals with drug crime but this is gonna be pretty simple I think, he is calling me on Monday to discuss my options.


Also I have some epic fraud protection - I am not liable for a single charge.

[Meelocheck]

File a police report now. Not now...Right now. That should have been the first thing you did upon finding out what happened. What happens when they ask you why you waited half a week to file the report? "Well, I had to post on a guitar amp internet forum to see what those guys think I should do"...or..."A detective friend of mine was going to call me next week and tell me what to do"...No.

Cover your ass. The longer you wait the more you look like you could have contributed to this spending spree. The sooner you file a police report the sooner you will cover your own ass, the sooner they can proceed with an investigation/pressing charges. Your friend, who is a lead detective, should have told you to file a police report right away. You have nothing to gain by waiting. Just my 2 bits...

[Demiurge]

Yeah I will give the non-emergency number a call today and at least get the paperwork started. I didn't want to do it yesterday because I want my roommate here to vouch that this guy is a piece of shit and took it.

Being a blatantly honest individual I didn't see how waiting could make me look like I was part of it, but I will get right on it.

[neilrocks25]

As per my FB post

Why didn't you call your credit card company and have it stopped? They will put a block on the card and you will not be accountable for any spending. Also notify the police if he has used your card it will often be caught on CCTV and he will be arrested (in a perfect world)

I was a complaints manager at a CC company, I doubt too much has changed since then.

[clipless bumper]

As per my FB post

Why didn't you call your credit card company and have it stopped? ..............

By the time he knew it was missing - the $1,500 was already spent.
I am sure he stopped it on that phone call.

[Dave]

Just pay for whatever he bought, order him an authorized user card and enjoy your new gay boy toy.

[neilrocks25]

As per my FB post

Why didn't you call your credit card company and have it stopped? ..............

By the time he knew it was missing - the $1,500 was already spent.
I am sure he stopped it on that phone call.

Well if the OP can prove it wasn't him and the card was stolen he will not have to pay. That is why many people prefer Credit cards (stating the obvious I know)

[Demiurge]

The card was turned off before I even talked to the credit card company. Wells Fargo is a champion among champions in this regard. Guy on the phone told me after 10 suspected charges, the card is turned off. I asked him "How did you know they were fraudulent", he said "you've never used your card for anything other than amazon and gasoline, the first charge was $1 at a bar (to make sure the card would work), then immediately after, $200 at the same bar"

I am not responsible for anything, but I want this piece of shit to be prosecuted to the full extent.

[Demiurge]

Just pay for whatever he bought, order him an authorized user card and enjoy your new gay boy toy.

I only have room in my ass for one gay boy toy and that is you

[Crunchtime]

MFPOMFGS!

[Demiurge]

G = gay

if so lol'd hard

[linthat22]

They can't prosecute without a police report. Already talked to the fraud department about this.

I can file the police report, the state will prosecute (credit card fraud, especially on state-owned store premises).

I have the option of additionally filing civil charges for the breaking and entering and credit card fraud (requires a lawyer, i don't have the time or money, broke college student).

But at least with a police report and all of the evidence he will be royally fucked for life. I have a close friend who is lead detective for my county's PD. He mostly deals with drug crime but this is gonna be pretty simple I think, he is calling me on Monday to discuss my options.


Also I have some epic fraud protection - I am not liable for a single charge.

Dude, I hope you do all this! I understand the not being able to afford a lawyer part, but I'm sure if the judge is worth his weight in salt and the state does their due diligence, this kid should be in quite the pickle.

Sucks that it happened dude. I deal with this stuff everyday now and I'm glad with your own investigating that you found out the particulars. Hopefully you got either pics from the HD Stills or printouts from it, cause that'll make your case that much stronger against that thief.

Hopefully $1,500 bucks and breaking and entering will deem a worthy look at this guy from a law enforcement perspective. I know the guy I had busted 2 months ago had to rack up $35k in credit card fraud before the police would even do a sting.

[neilrocks25]

The card was turned off before I even talked to the credit card company. Wells Fargo is a champion among champions in this regard. Guy on the phone told me after 10 suspected charges, the card is turned off. I asked him "How did you know they were fraudulent", he said "you've never used your card for anything other than amazon and gasoline, the first charge was $1 at a bar (to make sure the card would work), then immediately after, $200 at the same bar"

I am not responsible for anything, but I want this piece of shit to be prosecuted to the full extent.

Then if its reported to the police and followed up, some bars have CCTV, it may have his well pruned mug on that?

[VTM]

Just pay for whatever he bought, order him an authorized user card and enjoy your new gay boy toy.

I only have room in my ass for one gay boy toy and that is you

[fretless]

dirty thief nail his ass to the wall , metaphorically speaking

[Pepi]

Whatever you do DON'T kill him. You will end up on the world news

[izzy]

tl;dr - "roommate's" gay friend broke into my bedroom ...

R i g h t .

That said, hope he envoys the full brunt of the law and all it's consequences.

[PurpleTrails]

Bet the thief really enjoys prison, though my guess is they'll let him off on a greatly reduced plea bargain.

[Dickarms]

you really think he broke in, or just swiped it when he was there pleasuring your...roomate....

[clipless bumper]

you really think he broke in, or just swiped it when he was there pleasuring your...roomate....

he broke into his room - while he was in the house um... visiting.

[Dickarms]

i mean was it locked? may seem like a dumb question, but people, even gya thieves, dont generally pick locks or kick open doors at places they are at.

this whole situation sucks though, and i hope you nail that entitled motherfucker.

for the record, the gay thing could have been omitted completely. i can say i hate this dude, but for two completely different reasons.

[Schweezly]

i mean was it locked? may seem like a dumb question, but people, even gya thieves, dont generally pick locks or kick open doors at places they are at.

this whole situation sucks though, and i hope you nail that entitled motherfucker.

for the record, the gay thing could have been omitted completely. i can say i hate this dude, but for two completely different reasons.

Agreed. It's not like being gay makes it more likely that he'd steal from you.

Either way though, hope it gets figured out

[clipless bumper]

.............It's not like being gay makes it more likely that he'd steal from you............

really?

he obviously doesn't value societal norms or others views as highly as some other people..........



go ahead - flame away - it's a slow day here anyway.