Five electric bikes worth more than $8,000 were ready for pickup at a California bicycle shop. But before handing them over, employees took another look at the credit card used for the order.
The additional verification showed the payment was fraudulent, according to ABC7. Instead of completing the sale, employees at Jax Bicycle Center in Huntington Beach contacted police.
The people who placed the order were scheduled to return in person for the bikes. When they arrived, Huntington Beach officers were already waiting nearby.
Police arrested Vesna Chan and John Nguyen.
The Size of the Order Made Employees Look Closer
2 arrested in alleged fraudulent e-bike purchase scheme, Huntington Beach police say https://t.co/IqRwoiOKBI
— ABC7 Eyewitness News (@ABC7) August 16, 2026
The transaction began with an order for five e-bikes from the Huntington Beach store. The unusually large purchase prompted employees to conduct additional verification before releasing the merchandise. The Huntington Beach Police Department said the business immediately contacted officers after discovering the problem.
Officers positioned themselves nearby and waited for the scheduled pickup. Chan and Nguyen were taken into custody when they arrived. The arrests led investigators to additional evidence that was not limited to the bike purchase.
Investigators say a search of their vehicle also produced additional evidence of identity theft and burglary tools, broadening the investigation beyond the five e-bikes.
The Two Suspects Face Different Accusations
Chan was booked on accusations including burglary, conspiracy to commit a crime and possession of burglary tools, according to ABC7.
Nguyen faces a longer list that includes forgery, obtaining money by false pretenses, possession of bad checks, burglary, fraud, conspiracy, possession of burglary tools and mail theft.
Police said both suspects were booked on multiple felony and misdemeanor charges. The accusations against Chan and Nguyen have not been proven in court.
What to Do if Someone Uses Your Card or Identity for Purchases
The Federal Trade Commission advises consumers who discover unauthorized credit or debit card activity to contact the card issuer or bank immediately and report the transaction as fraudulent.
Consumers should continue reviewing their account statements for other transactions they do not recognize. If the problem involves more than a single compromised card and someone may be using personal information to commit identity theft, the FTC directs victims to IdentityTheft.gov, which provides a recovery plan and steps for addressing fraudulent accounts.
A credit freeze or fraud alert can provide additional protection when identifying information may have been stolen. A freeze makes it harder for someone to open new credit accounts in another person’s name, while a fraud alert tells businesses to take additional steps to verify identity before granting new credit.