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2030 North Arlington Avenue • Duluth, Minnesota 55811 • www.duluthmn.gov
Public Information Officer, Mattie Hjelseth at (218) 730-5434 or mhjelseth@duluthmn.gov
SUBJECT: Fraud Alert
BY: DPD Public Information Officer Ron Tinsley (218) 730-5722
NATURE OF INCIDENT: Fraud Alert
CASE NO.:
INCIDENT DATE: 12/12/2014
INCIDENT TIME:
INCIDENT LOCATION: Duluth, MN
Fraud Information
Recently the Duluth Police Department has had several cases involving fraudulent gift cards being used to facilitate retail theft. The suspects are taking inactivated gift cards and transposing legitimate (stolen) credit/debit card data onto the magnetic strips of the gift cards. The majority of the gift cards are “Vanilla” brand and “Green Dot” gift cards.
The Duluth Police Department is asking merchants to be extra vigilant with their screening of gift cards. Please be sure to verify that the account number and/or name on the card match the account number and/or name listed on the receipt, or transaction screen. Also be cautious of people who buy numerous items and ask to separate the sales and use different cards for each sale. Asking for an ID and documenting the ID number on the store’s receipt would help put a stop to the illegal activity.
If a merchant determines that a gift card transaction appears to be fraudulent, for example the number on the magnetic strip does not match the number on the card, retain the card and call 911.
