Crime & Safety
Secret Service Joins Teaneck Credit Card Fraud Probe
Hundreds of local residents could be impacted, councilman says.
Federal agents and county authorities have joined the investigation into a rash of this month by Teaneck residents, police said.
received about 70 official fraud reports around May 17, said Detective Capt. Glenn O'Reilly. Local police were now working with the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and U.S. Secret Service to investigate the flood of fraud claims.
Residents should check their credit card statements and report any fraudulent charges to card companies and authorities, O'Reilly said.
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“It does aid in our investigation,” O'Reilly said, adding reports can be made 24 hours a day by visiting police headquarters.
Victims have reported their card information was somehow compromised, but the card itself was not taken, according to police.
Find out what's happening in Teaneckfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Authorities are continuing to investigate, but police said there was no immediate evidence to suggest the fraud was related to any of the high-profile security breaches reported by some card companies.
In an interview earlier this month, Councilman Elie Y. Katz from residents who learned their card numbers were used for purchases as far away as the Midwest. Katz and Councilman Yitz Stern sent an e-mail message to a Teaneck listserve asking residents to come forward and file police reports after scores of fraud claims surfaced earlier this month.
Katz, himself a victim, said he was concerned some residents would not file official police reports.
“They basically feel that they call their credit card companies and the problem is resolved, but the root of the problem is not resolved,” Katz said in the interview. “The police need thorough data.”
As of May 18, Katz said he had received 170 emails from residents claiming to be victims, and said the number of possible residents impacted could reach 300.
Related coverage:
Reminder: Teaneck Police ask residents to file a report by visiting headquarters at 900 Teaneck Road. Reports can be made 24 hours a day.
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