Stolen wallet leads to $15,000 shopping spree in Durham
DURHAM (WTVD) -- On Aug. 2, a Wilson woman had her wallet stolen at the Streets at Southpoint in Durham, and within an hour and a half the thieves had already racked up more than $15,000 in charges on her credit cards.
Brenda Mattocks believes her wallet was stolen right out of her purse while she and her family were eating lunch at a busy Panera Bread.
"I was unaware that my wallet had been taken till I went to another store, and by that time I started getting calls that fraudulent activity was going on [with] my account," said Mattocks.
Mattocks later got her wallet back from a man who found it in a dumpster, but by then the damage had been done and her credit cards, bank cards, and social security card were all missing.
She has good reason to suspect more than one person was involved, since there were two thefts that occurred in different parts of Durham at the exact same time.
In all, close to $4,300 was spent on her cards at the Apple store, and more than $900 were spent at CVS Pharmacy. From there, the thieves hit up a Rite Aid for close to $2,000. Then, they apparently went back to CVS for another $950 in charges. Next was $800 dollars at Walmart, then on to Best Buy for more than $2,500, before spending a similar amount at Target. In addition, at some point during this spree, they also charged more than $900 at an area Walgreens.
There are surveillance images that show at least one suspect, described as possibly Hispanic, with long dark hair, wearing a black and white outfit. However, her appearance makes the fraud that much more baffling considering she looks nothing like Mattocks.
"I had a State Credit Union card with my picture on it, and that card was used," said Mattocks. "And what amazed me the most is that my ID or an ID was never checked and they could get away with that many charges."
ABC11 checked with North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper, and unfortunately clerks don't have to ask for your ID, even if you mark that request on the front of your card.
"They can, for example, if it's a swipe ask for a pin number or the zip code where you send the bill, but it's not required that you ask for a picture," explained Attorney General Roy Cooper.
So what can you do? Cooper suggests regularly checking your accounts online, checking your credit report several times a year, and putting on a security freeze.
"It's a little trouble for people, but it certainly helps protect you from someone going out and establishing an account in your name," says Cooper. "If someone steals your social security number, then you could be at a real risk for identity theft so it's a great idea to set up that security freeze at that time."
If you do find yourself the victim of theft, whether it's your wallet or your identity, Cooper says report to police, contact your credit card company or bank and cancel any stolen cards, and if your identity has been stolen, contact the AG's office at 877-5NO-SCAM.
Meanwhile, Target released the following statement: "We protect our guests by relying on electronic authorization by the cardholder's bank as the primary approval method for every credit transaction, which allows for fast and accurate transactions without the need to check for photo ID."
As for Mattocks, she says she's hoping her story will serve as a warning for others. Meanwhile, she's learned to not carry her social security and so many credit cards on her, and to trade in a purse that offers easy access to thieves for something she can zip closed and carry close to her body.
If you recognize the woman in the surveillance photos or know anything about this crime, you're asked to contact Durham police.
