Police Think Spate of Credit Card Fraud Cases Related, Includes Johnston

In an age when credit and debit cards have replaced cash, reports of identity theft aren’t that unusual.

But the frequency of reports over the past week has gotten the attention of detectives with the t, and at least one Johnston business.

As many as 14 people from West Des Moines and surrounding suburbs have reported to police that they’ve been notified by their banks and credit card companies of suspected fraudulent activity on their cards. Charges or attempted charges totaled more than $6,250, according to reports on file at the West Des Moines Police Department.

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The common denominator in the cases appears to be that the victims reported last using their credit or debit cards at a number of area businesses, primarily restaurants, including some in Johnston, West Des Moines and Urbandale.

West Des Moines Police spokesman Lt. Jim Barrett said detectives are investigating a possible connection between the cases. There’s not much people can do to prevent such crimes other than to regularly their monitor their bank and credit card account, he said.

“Be careful where you give the numbers out,” Barrett advised, acknowledging that “sometimes, there’s nothing you can do. Just make sure you keep on top of your financial records.”

In one case, four businessmen from West Des Moines, Urbandale and Ankeny reported having lunch together at Eastern Buffet, 4001 Westown Pkwy. in West Des Moines.

Later that day, each of the men was told by his credit card company that attempts to use the cards had been repeatedly made at a Cedar Rapids Walmart.

One of the men, a West Des Moines stock broker, told police that charges on his account were made in $500 increments. His lunch partners reported charges in similar amounts.

Another victim discovered a hold had been placed on her Wells Fargo VISA card when she attempted to use it to pay for gasoline. She got a text from the bank, saying that $600 had been charged to the card at a Walmart in Grimes on May 11. A charge at the same Walmart in the amount of $553.90 was declined.

The victim told police she has not used her card “anywhere unusual” during the past several weeks, according to the report.

Others reporting suspicious activity on their cards said they had previously used them at in Urbandale, Troestel’s Dish in Clive, , , , , Altoona Menards, , and Enterprise Rental in Waukee.

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