Authorities say that three California residents are responsible for thousands of dollars lost in a regional scam that includes victims in Vancouver.
Police in Salem, Ore., first became aware of the scheme when they responded to two financial institutions that reported fraudulent transactions that involved counterfeit debit cards for several customers.
Investigators said they believe that the suspects were using a skimming device, an electronic item that when placed in a card reader, secretly collects data from credit and debit cards. This allows thieves to gain access to make fraudulent purchases with the card holder’s information.
Salem police located a skimming device and learned that the counterfeit debit cards were used to purchase expensive electronics, clothing and gift cards from cities as far south as Medford, Ore. and as far north as Vancouver. The loss in these cases was more than $8,400.
Surveillance photos of the suspects were forwarded to retail outlets throughout the region, and on April 21, a loss prevention officer at Fred Meyer in Vancouver recognized the suspects who matched the description, according to Salem police.
The loss prevention officer was able to get a photo of the suspects and their van, which had a California license plate, Salem police said.
The next day, Beaverton police located the suspects at a hotel in Beaverton and took them into custody.
The three suspects, Evaristo Hernandez-Vazquez, 37, Hector Hernandez-Vazquez, 30, and Norma Hernandez-Vazquez, 39, were all arrested on suspicion of aggravated identity theft, fraudulent use of a credit card, first-degree theft by deception and seven counts of identity theft. They were lodged in the jail in Marion County, Ore., and bail for each person was set at $220,000, Salem police said.
A search warrant served at the Beaverton hotel room yielded more than 100 fraudulent credit and debit cards, multiple high end electronics, clothing, gift card, a Louis Vuitton handbag valued at more than $3,000 and nearly $3,500 in cash, police said.
Anyone with further information on the case is asked to call Salem police Det. Michael Korcek at 503-588-6050.
