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Two Men Charged with Fraud at Local Businesses – There may be Additional Victims

Jul 18, 2016 | 3:03 PM

LETHRBIDGE:  Two 27-year old Medicine Hat men have charged connection with a series of fraudulent transactions at local businesses.

The Lethbridge Police Economic Crimes unit, with the help of Medicine Hat Police, has been investigating pair for using fraudulent credit cards to purchase or attempt to purchase items.

The transactions involved the subjects attempting to use an admin card to manipulate the point of sale terminal, cards with no banking or financial labelling associated to them and manually entering credit card numbers.

Transactions ultimately display as approved, but the merchant will later be informed the card number is not valid.

Last Thrusday, (July 14th), police located the subjects in a U-Haul vehicle that had been associated to them, but they refused to stop and fled from officers.

The suspect vehicle was located a short time later in a south side parking area and the subjects were arrested.

During a search, police recovered a small quantity of cocaine and drug paraphernalia, numerous credit and debit cards, a written list of what appears to be credit card numbers, receipts and an assortment of property including electronics, liquor, cigarettes and more.

Police believe the subjects were in the city for the sole purpose of defrauding businesses.

The subjects have been charged in connection with fraud/attempted fraud at three local businesses and in an effort to identify any other establishments their photo have been released.   Any staff members who recognize these men are asked to contact police at 403-328-4444.

Police are also reminding merchants to adhere to transaction best practices for all debit and credit card purchases:

— Maintain visual contact with customers using handheld point of sale terminals.

— Do NOT allow customers to manually enter their own credit card numbers into the machine.

— Do NOT accept any credit card numbers for purchase without obtaining the three-digit security number from the back of the credit card. The best practice for merchants is to only process credit card transactions when an actual credit card is used in the point of sale terminal.

James Robert Stuart, is charged with breach of a recognizance, flight from a peace officer, possession of stolen property, fraud and two counts of attempted fraud.

Nicholas Dwaine Belanger, is charged with possession of a controlled substance (cocaine), possession of stolen property, attempted fraud and fraud.

Both men made their first court appearance this morning and were remanded in custody. They will appear in court again next Wednesday, July 27th.