SANTA CRUZ, Calif - Santa Cruz Police are investigating whether a local increase in fraudulent credit card transactions could be linked to a larger worldwide security breach.
According to the Santa Cruz Police Department, over the weekend the department saw an exponential increase in reported fraudulent credit card transactions. The Santa Cruz Police Department is currently investigating a number of identity theft cases in which unknown suspect(s) used victims VISA or MasterCard credit and debit cards to make purchases through the internet.
Investigators are working to see if there are local ties to the cause of the increase in identity theft cases or if they are related to the resent Global Payments breach, in which more than 1.5 million financial records were breached.
The Santa Cruz Police Department recommends that you monitor your bank and credit accounts for fraudulent activity.
If fraudulent activity is discovered and you are a City of Santa Cruz resident, you can use the department's online reporting system at santacruzpolice.com to file a police report. If you are not a City of Santa Cruz resident, please contact your local law enforcement agency to file a report. Additionally, contact your bank to report the fraudulent activity and request a new credit/debit card and/or account number.
Please have the following information available in order to make a thorough report:
Victim Name
Victim Address
Victim Telephone Number
Victim Account Number
Victim Bank Account Number
Victim Card Account Number
Fraudulent Charge(s) Date/Time – Exact as according to their statements.
Notations or comments in the charges field of their statements
To Leave ANONYMOUS information regarding this incident, please call our TIP LINE (831) 420-5995.
