Crime & Safety

Influx of Fraud Leaves Ramona Residents Concerned

The Ramona Substation for the Sheriff's Department has received 15 reports credit card fraud in the last week.

A high volume of credit card fraud has been reported recently to the Sheriff's Department Ramona Substation—at least 15 in the past week, a crime prevention specialist said.

"We all have to be very protective of our financial and personal information in today's world," Barbara Wallace said.

On the Ramona Patch Facebook page, numerous residents reported purchases on their debit cards or credit cards in states along the East Coast and southern states, including North Carolina, Arkansas, Florida, Maryland and Texas.

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One resident reported a charge of $800 for drugs in Canada.

Some said on Facebook theey suspected Ramona Jerry's B Street Express Wash as the possible origin of stolen card information.

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Car wash manager Shane Chapel said Tuesday that the business received two calls regarding stolen numbers, but none of their card-readers were tampered with.

"You need multiple keys to get in and install a device in them to read credit card information," Cross said. "It's next to impossible."

Wallace gave Ramona Patch readers tips for preventing fraud last month and still warns that it's hard to prevent it completely.

"Every time we use our credit or debit cards, we are sharing our account numbers and other vital information with 'strangers,'" she said. "It almost makes you feel that the only safe method is to use cash... but carrying too much cash could put you at risk too!"

So what can you do? First, report to the Sheriff's Department immediately if you've been a recent victim of the fraud in town.

"It is really positive that victims are reporting the crime to the Sheriff's Department," Wallace said.

Here are some more tips to protect your financial life, according to the crime prevention specialist:

  • Be vigilant about reviewing your bank/card accounts.
  • Protect your PIN numbers and codes on the back of your cards.
  • Don't let your credit/debit card out of your sight—don't let someone take it to complete the transaction.
  • Always shred documents containing your personal information.
  • Never provide personal information over the phone or Internet unless you initiated the contact.
  • Beware of using your credit/debit cards on public WiFi sites.
  • Check your credit report at least once a year—you can receive one free report from each of the three credit reporting agencies annually.

Has your credit or debit card information been stolen recently? Did you report to the local sheriff's station? Share your experience in the comments.


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