Milton Residents Victims of Credit Card, Tax Return Fraud

A Cogburn Road resident had more than $3,400 in fraudulent transactions charged to her Discover card before the company's fraud department alerted her to the charges. She cancelled her card and placed a flag on the account.

The woman said a $490 hair extension that was part of the fraudulent activity was shipped to her home, and was taken into evidence. It appears someone paid for a trip with her card number as another $490 was spent through Expedia. The third fraudulent charge was $1,858 to Walmart.com.

The victim was advised by Milton police to alert the three credit bureaus.

Identity Thief Uses Old Address for Victim

A Bethany Creek Drive resident discovered his identity had been stolen by someone who used a Florida address where he last lived in 1999.

A billing company called him at 8:30 p.m. on April 16 to ask about four charges made in April 2012 and one in May 2012 for $978 in bike parts. His name, date of birth, Social Security number and the old address were used.

The company advised him to file a police report, and Milton police advised him to check his credit report for additional fraudulent transactions.

Woman's Credit Card Used for Fraudulent Charge in China

A Deerfield Parkway resident discovered a fraudulent charge to Beijing, China, company after her son used her credit card to buy a computer hard drive at Frys Electronics in Milton on April 18.

The woman discovered the charge and foreign currency transaction fee after she checked her bank account soon after her son came home from the store. Neither of them knew where the money was sent, and why it was sent there.

Her bank had been notified, but Milton police advised her to cancel that credit card and notify the credit bureaus.

Woman Finds Fraudulent Purchase When Paying Bills Online

All a company where an Autumn Close woman's credit card was used fraudulently would tell her was that the purchase was shipped to Union City.

The woman told Milton police that she was paying her bills on April 17 when she saw a charge made on April 9 for $180 that she didn't make.

American Express told her to file a police report when she called to report the fraud.

Credit Card Application Confirmation Call Stops Identity Theft

Capital One called a Glen National Drive resident to confirm that he had applied for a credit card, but the Milton resident told the credit card company that he had not made the application

His name, Social Security number and date of birth were used on the application, but a different address was used.

Debit Card Number Used at Gwinnett Walmart Stores

A Broadwell Road resident reported to Milton police on April 15 three unauthorized charges on her Bank of North Georgia debit card after going online to view her bank account.

Someone fraudulently used her card at Walmart stores in Lawrenceville and Lilburn, spending $300 before she noticed the fraud. She has cancelled her card.

Milton Residents Taxed with Problem of Identity Theft

Two more Milton residents are victims of identity thieves who used their Social Security numbers to file federal taxes.

A Marrywood Drive resident who filed for an extension on his taxes on April 15 got a message from H&R Block that night. When he called back, the company representative told him the IRS notified them that his Social Security number had already been used to file taxes this year.

The victim was advised to file an affidavit with the Federal Trade Commission.

A Stirling Ridge Court woman had a similar problem when she tried to submit her tax return using Turbo Tax the weekend before the tax filing deadline. Every time she tried, her return was rejected.

A call to Turbo Tax on April 15 revealed the problem: someone already had used her Social Security number to file a tax return with the IRS.

The IRS confirmed the tax return was filed, but would not give her any additional information. She was advised to file a police report. She did that, filed a complaint with the FTC, placed a fraud alert through credit bureaus and filed paperwork with the IRS over the fraudulent use of her identity.

For questions about this blotter, email Bob Pepalis.