NCJ Number
203378
Journal
FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin Volume: 72 Issue: 11 Dated: November 2003 Pages: 8-13
Date Published
November 2003
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This article examines the modus operandi (MO) of theft rings that steal credit cards from health clubs.
Abstract
Beginning in the early 1990’s, law enforcement officials who were investigating criminal activities inside casinos became aware of credit card theft rings in which primarily Yugoslavians and Albanians would use stolen credit cards to obtain cash at casinos. Upon further investigation, theft rings that steal credit cards from health club lockers were uncovered. The article describes the MO of these theft rings, which primarily steal credit cards from health clubs in the New York and New Jersey area. Generally working in groups, these theft rings quickly and efficiently break into lockers, steal credit cards and identification information, make counterfeit identification to match the information on the credit card, and then travel to casinos where they withdraw cash from the credit cards. The article describes how the profits from these schemes are split and how the perpetrators carefully avoid detection, often traveling great distances to use the credit cards. Countermeasures to protect against this type of theft are discussed and include measures inside health clubs, casinos, and credit card companies. Finally, the author cautions that as more health clubs and casinos open around the country, there will be increasing opportunities for health club credit card theft rings, but with proper vigilance this type of criminal activity can be reduced and controlled. Endnotes