Mahwah Police Arrest Fraudulent Credit Card Ring Member

MAHWAH, NJ — Police arrested and charged a member of a fraudulent credit card manufacturing ring Thursday.

Davidson Gilot, 26, of Spring Valley, New York, was arrested after police received a report that he may have used a stolen credit card to check into a hotel, said Chief James Batelli.

Several police officers responded to the hotel. After performing a verification check, hotel personnel learned that the card was stolen when the man tried to pay for another night's stay, Batelli said.

Police went to Gilot's room and spoke with him. They found 10 blank credit cards from different banks and financial institutions, and a credit card press used to imprint information onto blank credit cards, Batelli said. They also found fake bank credit cards, a credit card scanner, fake New Jersey and Ohio driver's licenses, and a small amount of marijuana, Batelli said.

The chief said such a scam is "complicated."

Credit card numbers, which can be purchased off of the dark web or stolen obtained illegally, can be entered into a credit card reader and coded onto a credit card's magnetic strip. A phony name and the numbers are put on the front of the card. The name on the phony license can be the same on the fake card, which can come in handy if someone asks to see identification when someone uses the credit card.

"Merchants in the United States lose a staggering $190 billion a year in credit card fraud schemes like this," Batelli said.

Gilot was charged with forgery, possessing two or more credit card blanks, possession of a credit scanning device, possession of a credit card press, and marijuana possession.

Gilot was released under New Jersey bail reform law. He is scheduled to appear in Bergen County Central Municipal Court July 27.

Mahwah Police Detectives are continuing to investigate Gilot with the help of other law enforcement authorities and financial institutions, Batelli said.

Email daniel.hubbard@patch.com

Photo: Davidson Gilot, 26, of Spring Valley, New York (Mahwah Police Department)