Police on St. Thomas arrested 20-year-old Vivian Wang of Oakland, Calif., and charged her with fraudulent use of a credit card after she attempted to buy more than $10,000 worth of items from a Yacht Haven boutique.
Store employees said Wang was accompanied by another person Friday when she attempted to purchase an assortment of handbags, belts and other leather items with a credit card. However, the card was declined. Wang then told the clerk to call the 800 number on the back of the card for authorization, but the store employee said that was against store protocol. Wang then told the employee she would return the next day for the merchandise.
The store manager contacted the police, who conducted an investigation and determined the credit card and the identification Wang presented were forged.
Wang returned to the boutique at about 11:40 a.m. Saturday and was arrested by police officers.
Unable to post $20,000 bond Wang was remanded to the Bureau of Corrections pending further court action.
Commissioner Novelle E. Francis Jr. said businesses should always be on the lookout for the latest scams. This incident was based on a fraudulent 800 authorization number that store employees are asked to call. However the person answering the call is a participant in the scam and tells the business to authorize the purchases.
“The store employees did the right thing by holding the purchases and calling the police,” Francis said.
