Man indicted on ID fraud charges in ‘skimming’
Arrest first of its kind in Franklin County
A man arrested last week in a scheme to
steal customer-account information from ATMs has been identified and indicted.
A Franklin County grand jury yesterday indicted Ernino P. Perez, 30, on two counts of identity fraud, two counts of possessing criminal tools and two counts of unauthorized use of property.
Perez is accused of placing credit-card “skimmers” on US Bank ATMs at 688 High St. in Worthington and 270 E. Main St. in New Albany, Prosecutor Ron O’Brien said.
New Albany police said they arrested Perez on Jan. 9 when he returned to the E. Main Street machine to remove the skimmer. A bank employee had noticed the device and notified authorities.
At the time of the arrest, investigators were trying to determine the man’s identity and referred to him as “John Doe.” O’Brien said yesterday that the man claims his name is Enrico P. Perez and that he is from Toronto, but there is no documentation to verify his claim.
Skimmers are designed to access card numbers and account information and often include a transmitter to relay the information to an off-site computer, investigators said.
O’Brien said his office was aware of skimmer use by thieves elsewhere around the country, but this is the first such case prosecuted in Franklin County.
Investigators said last week that they are seeking a second suspect, possibly from New York, who they think was working with the man arrested in New Albany.
jfutty@dispatch.com
A Franklin County grand jury yesterday indicted Ernino P. Perez, 30, on two counts of identity fraud, two counts of possessing criminal tools and two counts of unauthorized use of property.
Perez is accused of placing credit-card “skimmers” on US Bank ATMs at 688 High St. in Worthington and 270 E. Main St. in New Albany, Prosecutor Ron O’Brien said.
New Albany police said they arrested Perez on Jan. 9 when he returned to the E. Main Street machine to remove the skimmer. A bank employee had noticed the device and notified authorities.
At the time of the arrest, investigators were trying to determine the man’s identity and referred to him as “John Doe.” O’Brien said yesterday that the man claims his name is Enrico P. Perez and that he is from Toronto, but there is no documentation to verify his claim.
Skimmers are designed to access card numbers and account information and often include a transmitter to relay the information to an off-site computer, investigators said.
O’Brien said his office was aware of skimmer use by thieves elsewhere around the country, but this is the first such case prosecuted in Franklin County.
Investigators said last week that they are seeking a second suspect, possibly from New York, who they think was working with the man arrested in New Albany.
jfutty@dispatch.com
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