A Pennsylvania woman has been arrested after police say she used two credit cards connected to the same victim to make $8,449.07 in unauthorized purchases.
The case began when the victim reported $6,694.32 in fraudulent charges on an existing credit card. The purchases were made between Oct. 23 and Dec. 27, 2024, according to the Manheim Township Police Department.
The victim later discovered that a second credit card had been opened in their name and was also being used without permission. Police say transactions on that account occurred between Nov. 9 and Dec. 27.
Pennsylvania State Police arrested Elizabeth Carol Adair on Aug. 28, 2026, after she had been wanted in the case since April 2025. Police records show she was later arraigned and remained in Berks County Prison after being unable to post bail.
The Victim Found Unauthorized Purchases on Two Credit Cards
The investigation began Jan. 9, 2025, when the victim contacted Manheim Township police about the $6,694.32 charged to the first card. The second account created a different problem.
Police say another credit card had been opened in the victim’s name and was used for additional purchases during an overlapping period. The victim told investigators that Adair had never been given permission to possess or use either card.
Store Surveillance Helped Investigators Identify Adair
Investigators contacted businesses where the disputed cards had been used and obtained surveillance video or still photographs connected to the transactions. Police showed the victim an image of the person seen using the cards, and the victim identified the woman as Adair.
Investigators then compared the store footage with photographs of Adair available through Pennsylvania’s Justice Network, or JNET. Police said the woman recorded using the cards matched Adair.
A criminal complaint was filed and an arrest warrant was issued April 24, 2025. In this case, police records list one count of identity theft and two counts of access device fraud.
Police Linked Adair to a Separate $658.54 Fraud Case
Manheim Township police also had a second warrant for Adair arising from an unrelated victim’s compromised banking information. In that investigation, police say three unauthorized in-person purchases totaled $658.54, $321.08 at Target, $309.26 at Home Depot and $28.20 at Five Below.
Target provided surveillance footage and told investigators that a card reference identity associated with the transaction was connected to Adair’s name. Police compared the footage with her Pennsylvania driver’s license and prior arrest photographs and said the images showed the same woman.
Home Depot also supplied video, which investigators said showed the same suspect. The Five Below transaction occurred the same day as the Home Depot purchase at a store located across the street.
She Was Arrested More Than a Year After the First Warrant Was Issued
Pennsylvania State Police arrested Adair on Aug. 28, 2026. Manheim Township police said she was taken to Berks County Prison and arraigned Sept. 1 before Magisterial District Judge Courtney M. Monson. The outstanding warrants were then canceled.
The department’s latest update says Adair remained incarcerated after being unable to post bail. The charges in both investigations remain accusations. Adair has not been convicted of the alleged identity theft or unauthorized card use.
A New Credit Card You Did Not Open Requires Immediate Action
Unauthorized spending on an existing card can indicate account fraud, but discovering an entirely new credit account is a strong indication that personal identifying information may also have been compromised. The Federal Trade Commission recommends reviewing credit reports for accounts that do not belong to you and contacting the company that opened the fraudulent account.
Consumers can also place free credit freezes with Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. A freeze restricts access to the credit report and can make it much harder for an identity thief to open another account. The freeze must be placed separately with all three nationwide credit bureaus.
A fraud alert is another option. An initial fraud alert tells businesses to verify the applicant’s identity before granting new credit and can be established by contacting any one of the three credit bureaus, which must then notify the others.
Someone who discovers an account opened without permission should also report the identity theft through IdentityTheft.gov, dispute the fraudulent account with the issuer and preserve statements, transaction records, application information and police reports.