Stafford Man Accessed Hundreds Of Credit Card Accounts Using Card Reader: Police

STAFFORD COUNTY, VA — Police claimed a man in Stafford used a credit card forgery device to access the credit card accounts of hundreds of victims. The man, Richard Allen, Jr., was arrested last week on identity theft and fraud charges.

In October, a Stafford County deputy took a fraud report that involved a suspect purchasing car parts online. Authorities said three invoices were billed to addresses in Maryland, Colorado, and California, but the items were shipped to Allen on Garrison Woods Drive.

A Stafford County detective was assigned to the case who obtained bank and internet records to contact other victims in the case.

The detective identified 12 victims across the country, the sheriff's office said. Authorities then obtained search warrants for Allen, his car, and his home.

"During the searches, evidence was recovered illustrating Allen’s involvement in fraudulent activity," the sheriff's office said on Friday. Police said they recovered a credit card reader/writer during their searches.

The sheriff's office obtained warrants for three counts of obtaining money by false pretense, three counts of identity theft, three counts of credit card theft, receiving fraudulent goods, and possession of credit card forgery devices.

Allen was arrested on Monday, May 2 and held without bond at the Rappahannock Regional Jail.