|
|
|
| Wed, Dec. 09 - - Mobile - RSS | |
| YOUR TOWN: Caroline | Culpeper | King George | Fredericksburg | Orange | Spotsylvania | Stafford | Westmoreland | |
|
|
King George man becomes victim of credit card fraud
King George man becomes victim of credit card fraudDate published: 3/19/2005 By PORTSIA SMITH dinner out with his family wound up costing Michael Fitzgerald nearly $3,400, plus interest. The King George County man became a victim of identity theft when he accidently left his credit card behind after eating at Chili's restaurant on Garrisonville Road in Stafford County. Two employees have been charged with racking up several thousands of dollars on the card in November. The restaurant helped him track down the employees. But Chili's isn't assuming any responsibility for the crime. And Fitzgerald's bank won't remove the fraudulent purchases from his account. Four months have since passed, and interest is accruing. Fitzgerald is stuck with the bill and doesn't know if he should pay it or wait to see if anyone will take responsibility. "I'm an innocent victim," Fitzgerald said. "Should I wait two years so they can pay my restitution?" What happened?Fitzgerald and his family enjoyed a night out at the Stafford Marketplace restaurant in late October. He went to get the car while his wife and three children waited for the waitress to bring the receipt. She signed the receipt and met her husband in the parking lot. A few days later while on an out-of-town business trip, Fitzgerald realized he didn't have his card. He called his wife to ask if she had it. But she said she thought he did because the waitress didn't bring it back with the receipt that night. He spoke to a Chili's manager, who said they had his card locked in the safe. "I went to pick it up a week later, and they couldn't find it," Fitzgerald said. "A week after that, they found it and I picked it up." When he received his November statement from the Marine Federal Credit Union, he noticed $3,385.09 worth of purchases he didn't make. More than $2,200 was spent at Wal-Mart, and hundreds of dollars were spent at Target, Kohl's and even Chili's. He reported the unauthorized purchases to his bank and contacted Chili's, which assisted the police in the investigation. In December, a Chili's waitress and hostess were arrested. Stafford residents Melissa Rene Parker, 20, and Elice May Strawderman, 19, were charged with credit card theft, six counts of credit card fraud, five counts of credit card forgery and conspiracy.
Date published: 3/19/2005
|
 |
|||
|
|||
