The Brief
- An Apollo Beach man is accused of operating a large-scale credit card fraud and fuel pump skimming operation across the Bay Area, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office and Manatee County Sheriff’s Office.
- Detectives say they seized more than 150 counterfeit credit cards, dozens of skimming devices and equipment used to make fake cards.
- Investigators believe dismantling the operation prevented millions of dollars in potential fraud.
APOLLO BEACH, Fla. – An Apollo Beach man is facing multiple felony charges after authorities say they uncovered a large-scale credit card fraud operation involving counterfeit payment cards, fuel pump skimming devices and stolen fleet fuel card information used across the Bay Area.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office and Manatee County Sheriff’s Office announced the arrest following a joint investigation.
Bay Area credit card fraud
The backstory:
The investigation began on June 24, when Manatee County Sheriff’s Office detectives learned that stolen fleet fuel card information belonging to a Manatee County victim had been used to make unauthorized diesel fuel purchases at gas stations in Hillsborough County.…