Debit Card Used to Steal Over $2000 From Bank Account, Says MCSO

This is a press release from the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office. The information has not been proven in a court of law and any individuals described should be presumed innocent until proven guilty:

On 01-28-2023 at approximately 1:16 p.m., Mendocino County Sheriff’s Deputies were called to investigate a report of fraudulent activity on a citizen’s bank account.

An unknown suspect had gained access to the account holder’s recently issued debit card through the mail and made several withdraws without the victim’s knowledge exceeding $2,000.00.

After learning all funds in the victim’s account were withdrawn, the victim initially contacted the bank’s fraud department to report the suspicious activity.
During the victim’s contact with the bank representative, the victim learned the suspect was already in contact with the bank to inquire why the debit card was no longer working. The suspect was able to pose as the victim and access the account by providing the bank with the victim’s personal identifying information.

With location information on where the debit card was used, deputies obtained surveillance footage and were able to identify two suspects.

Contact was made with the two suspects, and deputies found the suspects in possession of items purchased with the stolen debit card.

Both suspects were arrested and booked into the Mendocino County Jail for 532(a) PC – Fraud, 530.5(a) PC – Identity Theft, 487(a) PC – Grand Theft, and 182(a)(1) PC – Conspiracy.
With identity and mail theft incidents like these occurring ever so frequently, the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office would like to remind citizens of the following tools and resources (QR Codes below).