Three men are facing fraud and theft charges after police say they used multiple credit cards bearing different names to buy merchandise at a Virginia Best Buy.
The investigation took an unusual turn while officers were still inside the Leesburg store. A local resident called police to report that their credit card had just been used there without permission.
Officers connected that transaction to the three men they were already investigating, then searched their vehicle. Police say they found several stolen credit cards and thousands of dollars in merchandise believed to have been purchased through fraud.
Leonard Roman, 25, Walinton Castillo Rosario, 22, and Jeury Bol Villavicencio, 21, were arrested and charged with credit card fraud, conspiracy to commit fraud, and credit card theft. All three were being held without bond.
Best Buy Employees Flagged the Credit Cards
The Leesburg Police Department said officers were called to the Best Buy on Potomac Station Drive at about 7 p.m. on August 28.
Employees had reported three people purchasing merchandise with multiple credit cards that carried different names, prompting officers to investigate the transactions.
Police credited the store employees with noticing the suspicious activity and bringing it to officers’ attention.
A Cardholder Called While Police Were Still at the Store
While officers were conducting the investigation, the department received a separate call from a resident who said their credit card had just been fraudulently used at the same Best Buy.
Investigators determined that the transaction reported by the cardholder was connected to the activity officers were already examining inside the store.
Police then searched the vehicle associated with the three suspects. 7News also reported on the arrests and the evidence recovered during the investigation.
Police Found Stolen Cards and Thousands in Merchandise
Inside the vehicle, officers recovered several credit cards that police say had been stolen, along with thousands of dollars worth of merchandise believed to have been purchased fraudulently.
Roman and Castillo Rosario are from New York, while Villavicencio is from Pennsylvania. All three were transported to the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center and held without bond.
The investigation remains ongoing. Police asked anyone with information to contact the Leesburg Police Department at 703-771-4500. Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling 703-443-TIPS (8477). The charges are accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
What to Do If You Spot a Credit Card Charge You Don’t Recognize
The cardholder in this case contacted police while officers were still at the store, but an unfamiliar purchase should also be reported directly to the card issuer. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau recommends reviewing credit card statements closely and calling the customer service number on the statement or the back of the card when a charge is not recognized.
The CFPB also says consumers should follow up with a written billing-error notice to protect their legal rights. The notice should be sent no later than 60 days after the card company sent the statement on which the disputed charge first appeared. Cardholders should keep a copy of the notice and records of any follow-up calls while the dispute is being handled.