Austin Residents Alerted to Credit Card Skimming Scheme
Hey there, Austin! It seems like the city has become the latest victim in a series of credit card skimming incidents. Two individuals have allegedly been caught red-handed after police discovered a skimmer device at a gas station located in our very own northeast Austin. This might sound like something straight out of a crime drama, but it’s very real and happening right in our community!
Who Are the Suspects?
The suspects have been identified as Rodesley Reinoso-Malagon, 32, and Carlos Roberto Stable-Ramirez, 30. According to court documents, both were arrested and charged with serious offenses, including unlawful interception and use of disclosure of wire, oral or electronic communications—that’s quite the mouthful! This is classified as a second-degree felony, which means they’re in some hot water.
Both gentlemen were booked into jail and later released on October 24. Their attorneys had no comments when approached for a statement, leaving us all wondering what comes next in this intriguing case.
How Did They Get Caught?
Let’s rewind the tape a bit. This whole saga started on August 13 when the Austin Police Department received reports about a credit card skimmer being planted at the gas station. These sneaky devices are designed to be placed over existing card readers, making them almost impossible to detect during a quick gas-up.
Thanks to some surveillance footage, cops were able to piece together what had transpired. They identified the suspects and even managed to get a hold of the skimmer device from the corporate office of the supermarket where the gas station is located. Now that’s some solid detective work!
The Heist Unfolds
During the early hours of July 31, around 5:15 a.m., the video footage shows both suspects cruising up to the gas pump. Here’s the kicker: Stable-Ramirez (let’s call him Suspect No. 1) was recorded placing the skimmer on the pump by forcefully pushing it down. Meanwhile, Reinoso-Malagon (a.k.a Suspect No. 2) played lookout, blocking the view of nearby cameras and employees. That’s some classic heist maneuvering!
But the duo wasn’t done just yet. After successfully hiding their device, Suspect No. 1 tested it right then and there by swiping a credit card multiple times through the gas pump. Talk about confidence, right? They then left the scene, only to return hours later in separate vehicles to retrieve the skimmer. Sneaky indeed!
The Bigger Picture
Here’s a wow factor to consider: The Texas Financial Crimes Intelligence Center reported finding a staggering 35 skimmers at gas stations across Travis, Hays, and Williamson counties last year. In total, they recovered 228 skimmers in 2023 and 396 the year prior. Protecting Austinites from these types of fraud is crucial, as a crackdown in 2023 reportedly prevented about $48.5 million in fraudulent losses!
So there you have it, eagle-eyed Austinites! Keep your wits about you next time you pull into a gas station. If something seems off, it might just be worth a double-check. We’ll keep you updated on further developments regarding this case, and let’s hope justice takes its course swiftly.
