Police investigate Tucson-based international ID theft, fraud ring - Six men busted  Sgt. Pete Dugan told KGUN9 the investigation began at the beginning of March, with a man using a fraudulent credit card at the Tucson Mall. Tucson Police have confirmed that they are investigating a major identity theft and fraud ring with hundreds of potential victims and international ties. Investigators discovered more than a thousand stolen credit card accounts and hundreds of potential victims, some from right in Southern Arizona. This bust stems from an arrest police made months ago where a man was buying items at the Tucson Mall with a fraudulent credit card. He told police how he and others were getting personal information from hackers in Russia and making fraudulent credit cards. Over the last two days, police have arrested five people in connection to this huge identity and fraud ring. Police showed us everything they seized, merchandise, fraudulent credit cards and the equipment used to make them. Tucson News Now went to the storage unit in Marana where authorities found some of the merchandise bought with these fraudulent credit cards. Sgt. Rick Radinsky, with TPD's Financial Crimes Unit says, "They'll purchase these items whether they have a specific shopping list of what they want. They're items that are easy to sell, whether it's on eBay, Craigslist." Police also found a large amount of new, un-opened boxed merchandise, like flat screen televisions, iPad’s, video game systems, and tools believed to have been purchased with the fraudulent credit cards. Sgt. Radinsky says "The scope of the problem is so huge that this is probably a drop in the bucket to what's out there, but it's a significant ring." Federal and local law enforcement agencies say the ring has a vast reach with data being sold overseas to countries like Russia, but the effect falls on you and I. (Source tucsonnewsnow.com) (Source jrn.com)

'POS Doctor' and former Subway franchise owner pleads guilty for hacking 13 Subways & stealing $40k in gift cards  Abdollahi owned Subway franchises in Southern California from 2005 to 2008 and later operated a California company called “POS Doctor,” which sold and installed point-of-sale (POS) computer systems to Subway restaurant franchises around the country. POS systems are a type of computerized checkout register that allows merchants to manage customer purchases made by credit, debit and gift cards. Beginning in approximately 2011, Abdollahi and Wilkinson conspired to remotely hack into POS systems in Subway restaurant franchises around the country. Members of the conspiracy hacked into at least 13 Subway POS systems that Abdollahi sold through POS Doctor and fraudulently added at least $40,000 in value to Subway gift cards. Abdollahi and Wilkinson used the fraudulent gift cards to make purchases at Subway, and Wilkinson also sold fraudulent gift cards to others using eBay and Craigslist. (Source imperialvalleynews.com)

Rowlett. TX., Police investigate credit card fraud ring
Members of the ring obtain victim’s credit card information and use it to make fraudulent cards, the group then uses the credit card information to make large purchases at local retail stores throughout the DFW area. The suspects make purchase at self-checkout registers. They usually purchase one or two items, along with several Visa gift cards using victim’s information. Many of the suspects purchases are made in Home Depot stores. The four unidentified suspects have been captured on video surveillance, along with a suspect vehicle. The Rowlett Police Department is seeking the public’s help in identifying the suspects. To report information, contact the Rowlett police at 972-412-6220. (Source starlocalmedia.com)