A duo out of New York used up all their good credit on karma when, according to police reports, they tried to scam five Westport businesses. Their tool of choice was a wallet full of less-than-legitimate plastic.
Giselle Gonzalez, 23, and Vipul Patel, 25, both of Queens, were charged with multiple counts of conspiracy to commit unlawful completion or reproduction of a credit card and a single count each of conspiracy to commit fifth-degree larceny. Westport police added illegal use of a scanning device and non-conspiracy variants of the unlawful completion and larceny charges to Gonzalez's list.
According to police, area merchants had already been in contact with each other about the duo when the pair entered another store. Staff called the police and stayed on the line as the two tried to use the cards. They provided descriptions of Gonzalez and Patel, as well as their vehicle.
When the alleged credit bandits left the store, they walked right into a perimeter set up by officers and detectives. Fraudulent credit cards, statements and a credit card reader were recovered by the police, who believe the suspects were involved in an organized fraud and identity theft operation. They are due in court on Aug. 9.
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