Two Arrested For Credit Card Abuse
Posted on August 24, 2007
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Two men remain jailed after allegedly purchasing more than $290,000 of tires in East Texas on credit card numbers they got from Dallas citizens’ trash.
Smith County Sheriff J.B. Smith said James Harris, 25, of Grand Saline and Samuel Walton, 30, of Seagoville, are charged with theft and credit card abuse and remain in the Smith County Jail.
“One of them told us they were digging through trash in the Dallas area for receipts from American Express credit cards to purchase truck tires from East Texas and then taking them to at least one tire retailer in the Dallas area who bought them for less than wholesale prices,” he said.
Smith said his department learned of the scam earlier this week after a local tire dealer called to report two men who purchased tires ranging in price from $300 to $500 each on a credit card number that was reported as stolen.
As detectives began working the case, the tire dealer called back saying the two men had called again and were attempting to buy additional tires.
“We told them to tell the two men to pick up their tires, and we were there waiting for the suspects when they showed up,” he said.
Smith said during the investigation the local tire company told other Tyler tire dealers about the scam. The Tyler Police Department was also working cases against the two men.
“Right now we are working with the Tyler PD and the Dallas PD on this case,” he said. “There could be other cities and counties involved before we get to the bottom of this.” Smith said.
Representatives with American Express told his office they had lost close to $300,000 in just the past few days.
“This is a big scam and those tires cost a lot of money,” he said. “We are still working the investigation and there may be more arrests in this case.”