My wife and I haven't had a credit card for over 12 years, enjoying the idea of socking away money and paying cash for everything. My son's illness depleted our savings, and the recent loss of career came at a strange time when I had already agreed to move my son to Oklahoma.
Since we bought our new Dodge last year, I'd gotten several credit card offers, most recently in November...and it was 1.9% for life, locked in. Can't beat it, and I knew I was going to spend $1500-2000 during the move. I applied for it, got the Dodge Rewards Visa with an $8k credit line, bought some stuff for the truck, and used the card on the trip. All was good until I got my statement yesterday, noting several charges that were made AFTER I'd gone to Oklahoma, but were still IN Oklahoma (the charges).
I'll go ahead and publish names and addresses, since it's all a matter of public record. Moral of the story....watch your receipts, check your statements closely....this young lady worked at the Motel 6 I stayed at in Midwest City, where my son and daughter live....
Here's what I sent the police:
To: Pennsylvania State Police, Troop K, Trooper Hulstine
Midwest City Police, Officer Blanton (Re: Case #07-01611)
Motel 6 Area Manager Todd Blanton
From: James E. Lewis
Re: Visa Credit Card Theft/Charges, Shanika Walker, Donald Fisher, Leslie Blalock
February 21, 2007
<Personal information/identity>
The following is a listing of fraudulent charges placed on my credit card (Dodge Rewards Platinum Visa, card #xxxxxxxxxxxxx, account now closed) and further information I discovered through investigation:
Retailer Date Amount Reference Number
US Cellular 01/17/07 $100.00 5900
US Cellular 01/17/07 $100.00 9514
Dell Catalog Sales 01/18/07 $951.55 7950
Dell Catalog Sales 01/18/07 $134.35 7968
OK Gas & Electric 01/18/07 $204.95 9909
US Cellular 01/23/07 $250.00 8342
Pizza Land 01/17/07 $14.00 7697
Aaron’s Rents 02/17/07 $65.02 (Confirmed by Visa and Aaron’s Rents)
Shanika Walker (Motel 6 employee) phoned Aaron’s Rents (Branch #C0655, 200 N. Air Depot, Midwest City, 73110, 405-737-3471) with my credit card number and had household items delievered to her cousin, Donald Fisher, at 1316 Midwest Blvd #E, Midwest City, OK, 73110.
Leslie Blalock ordered a Dell computer and accessories on two separate orders and had them shipped to 1422 N. Midwest Blvd #F, Midwest City, OK, 73110. The cell # given to Dell (405-200-5015) is out of service, but she gave an alternate number of 405-732-3317, which belongs to an older lady who claimed not to know any of these people.
The Dell products were shipped via UPS, tracking number 1ZE19A394212726366. The status of this/these order(s) is unknown.
I am still waiting for an account number and address for the $204.95 paid to Oklahoma Gas & Electric through their “Choice Pay� vendor.
I have no information on the US Cellular charges ($450), but assume this was for initial deposits for cellular phone service.
I spoke with desk personnel at Motel 6 #0479, I-40 @ Hudiburg Dr, Midwest City, which is where I stayed on January 16, 2007, and it was confirmed that Shanika Walker works there.
It should go without saying, but I authorized NO ONE to use my credit card or numbers and all of these charges (totaling at least $1,819.87) are fraudulent and constitute theft, and would like to prosecute these people.
James E. Lewis