
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, January 14, 1995                   TAG: 9501160053
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-2   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG                                LENGTH: Short

POLICE SOUND CREDIT-CARD FRAUD WARNING

Police are warning business owners of a credit-card fraud scheme that is stretching from Blacksburg to Philadelphia.

Telephone merchandise orders are being placed by a man using credit-card numbers who asks that the purchases be shipped to Philadelphia.

Four cases have been reported to Blacksburg police since December. Police said the scheme generally works this way:

The man identifies himself as a military lieutenant, often using the names Pickens, Hunt or Gladdens. He places an order for shoes, computer equipment or other items, giving two credit-card numbers and a pager number for a call-back number.

Police said they aren't sure how the credit-card numbers are being obtained. Victims who reported the unauthorized use of their cards had not lost their cards and were not aware their cards were being used until they were notified their maximum credit limits had been reached.

For more information, businesses may call Detective Danny Compton at 961-1159 or 961-1150.

by CNB