Mom's Call Alerts Milton Woman to Payday Loan Fraud

A Deerfield Parkway resident's mother was the first person to let her know someone had stolen her identity by opening up two payday loans. Her mother got called when the loans fell past due, the victim told Milton police on April 24.

Her mother had been called by Plain Green Loan asking about payment for an $800 loan made in January 2012 that was past due. The loan company representative said the victim's name, Social Security number and employer information were used to apply for the loan. It wasn't her checking account or email address that were used, however.

Once a police report was received, the loan company promised to mark the loan as fraudulent and closed.

The victim spotted a $1,300 Cash Call Loan on her credit report that was not made by her. She hadn't contacted that loan company by the time she filed a police report.

This hasn't been the first time she's suffered through identity fraud. In 2005 she had to file a fraud report with the Alpharetta police department.

Bank Catches Fraudulent Use of Milton Man's Company Credit Card

A Milton businessman's bank contacted him about possible credit card fraud when numerous transactions were made in the Pennsylvania and New Jersey area for three days.

The Biokine representative told Milton police on April 25 that fraudulent charges started on his business credit card two days before Cherokee Bank alerted him about the possible fraud. Once he spotted many fraudulent charges by checking his account, he had the bank cancel the card on April 15.

He told police he needed a police report so his bank could open its investigation. He was advised to check all of his banks and the credit bureaus to tell them about possible fraud.

Chipping Wood Court Resident Blames a Tow Truck Driver

A Chipping Wood Court resident had six unauthorized charges on her credit card after using it with a towing company.

State Bank contacted her about the possible fraud on April 24. Charges were made in Lawrenceville, Kennesaw, Acworth and Rome between April 23 and April 25, at a gas station, Walmart stores and at a Home Dept.

She has since cancelled her credit card.

Texas Thief Tries 3 Times to Open Credit Card Accounts

A Stonebrook Farms Drive woman's identity was stolen to attempt to get a Discover card by someone in Texas.

The woman's husband said he saw unauthorized transactions made through Paypal Verifybank on April 17. He froze that account and transferred the funds to a different account.

The next day, Discover Card called asking if his wife had tried to open up a credit card account with them on April 17, using a Texas address. After telling them no, he put a fraud alert on their accounts with the credit reporting agencies.

The next calls came from Web Bank and Bank of America, again asking if his wife had applied for credit cards. He told them both no, and was told that a Dallas, Texas address was used to apply for the Bank of America credit card.

The last times the couple gave out personal information, including her Wells Fargo account, was when applying for a line of credit at Sears on March 22, and a few weeks ago at a Johns Creek doctor's office.

TurboTax Rejects Milton Woman's Tax Return

Even more Milton residents have reported being victimized by someone using their Social Security numbers to file tax returns. The latest victim was a Woodbranch Drive resident who told Milton police on April 24 that when she tried to submit her return using TurboTax, it was rejected. The next day she got the same rejection notice, and additional information stating that her Social Security number already had been sued to file a tax return.

She has notified the Federal Trade Commission and all three credit bureaus.

Alabama Visit Might Be Start of Identity Fraud

A Spring View Court resident received email from Walmart confirming her purchase of two $200 egift cards. It's too bad that she never bought them. Someone used her debit card number and apparently her Walmart account to fraudulently buy the cards.

She told Milton police on April 21 that she had notified Wells Fargo and Walmart about the fraud. The last times she had used the debit card was at a Cracker Barrel in Opeilaka, AL, and at the Auburn University bookstore the day before, and in a stop at a Canton gas station that night.

For questions about this blotter, email Bob Pepalis.