SOUTHSIDE – One person has been arrested in connection with a multi-state debit card skimming operation that cost more than $43,000 for card holders.

Alabama Attorney General Steven T. Marshall joined Southside Chief of Police Chris Jones, Etowah County District Attorney Jody Willoughby and U.S. Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Michael Williams said an arrest warrant has also been issued for an additional suspect in the case.

Janique Shontie Crafter, 29 of Macon, was taken into custody by the Bibb County, Georgia Sheriff’s Office. Crafter was identified as the individual who allegedly rented the vehicle utilized in the crimes. She was charged with financial transaction card fraud forgery and financial identity fraud. Crafter, who is currently in custody in Bibb County, Georgia, awaits extradition to Alabama where she faces charges for theft of property, first degree, and identity theft in Etowah County.

Seven banks and more than 300 individuals in Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi and Colorado are believed to have been victimized by the skimmers.

“This is a task force case,” Attorney General Marshall said at the press conference held on Tuesdayin Southside. “Multiple jurisdictions worked together to ultimately arrive at the goal, which is to hold offenders accountable who engage in this particular conduct.”

On April 12, Southside Deputy Chief of Police Philip Roberson—a longtime Pell City resident—took a statement from an individual whose card had been compromised and utilized in Hoover. With the cooperation of Paula Knowles, fraud specialist at Family Savings Credit Union in Gadsden, they were able to identify several more potential victims and traced the point of compromise to a local gas station in Southside.

“This case personifies cooperation not only among law enforcement, but local businesses as well. Mrs. Knowles was instrumental in quickly identifying the point of compromise at a local gas station. From there, we were able to quickly engage and reach out to other agencies and deputies from the Attorney General’s office, and they bring counties and other districts, and even crossed over state lines,” Roberson said.

Agents of the Alabama Attorney General’s Office were then contacted by the Southside Police Department about a possible gas pump skimmer. After investigating several locations where transactions were conducted and securing surveillance video, agents were able to obtain the license plate number of the suspects and tracked them to Macon, Georgia.

On April 19, investigators with the Southside Police Department and agents with the Alabama Attorney General’s Office traveled to the Macon, Ga. area to conduct a joint operation with the Bibb County, Georgia Sheriff’s Office and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to apprehend suspects in connection with a debit card skimming operation initially discovered in Southside.

Search warrants also discovered narcotics in the residence in Ga., also involving the narcotics unit in the ongoing investigation. Most of the stolen card information was used to purchase money orders in the amounts of $1000-$2900 each. Among other items found in the residence were 70 pairs of women’s shoes, multiple big screen and smart TVs, a brand new washer and dryer unit, and every child within the residence had brand new gaming systems, according to Roberson.

Authorities in Alabama and Georgia identified the second suspect as James Edward Faulks, II, age 37, of Macon, Georgia. Faulks, who is also wanted in Georgia on previous warrants, remains at-large at this time. Surveillance video show Faulks utilizing cards as recently at April 27. The search continues over a multi-state area.

“The debit card information that was skimmed in Southside was used to make illegal purchases in Vestavia Hills, Hoover, Pelham, Moody, Leeds and Oxford in Alabama, and Atlanta, LaGrange and Macon in Georgia.,” Marshall said. “Had it not been for the vigilance of a local financial institution in discovering these suspicious transactions and in notifying law enforcement, this criminal activity might still be occurring.”

“Debit card skimming is a serious problem, and the most effective way to turn the tables on crooks is to shut them down early. I’m proud to say teamwork between a local business and law enforcement made a positive difference in this case. In particular, I would like to commend Family Savings Credit Union in Gadsden for its assistance in this case,” Marshall said.

Paula Knowles, fraud specialist with Family Savings Credit Union in Gadsden, gathered information that led to the investigation and discovery of the debit card skimmers. “People should check their accounts regularly, daily if possible. If they suspect any suspicious activity on their account, they should first call their financial institution. The fraud department at their institution will reissue the customer’s debit card. The customer should also contact their local law enforcement to file a police report. The fraud department will send any pertinent information to the law enforcement agency.”

Knowles also suggested that individuals always carry another form of payment, such as cash, check, or other debit or credit cards to be used and to always be on alert and diligent in checking their accounts.

There are two types of skimmers used to obtain credit and debit card information at gas pumps, according to the Attorney General’s office. These devices are hidden behind the door to the pump so customers and business owners are not aware of them. The skimmers utilize cords connected to the card readers at the pump to intercept information from the system that processes payments. It is quantified as a cyber crime, specifically a “passive man-in-the-middle attack,” because they are intercepting network traffic from the financial system of a gas station, ATM, or other areas where debit or credit cards can be scanned. The information is then transmitted via Bluetooth or downloaded by the perpetrators. The stolen card information is transferred to other Visa, MasterCard, or gift cards so it does not look suspicious to clerks at point of transactions.

“Individuals have a responsibility to be diligent about their own identifying information. Ways to avoid being a victim in a case like this is not to use your credit or debit card at the pump, but to go inside,”  Marshall said. “This type of technology has also been seen at ATMs, so individuals should make sure they are paying attention to their financial information, know when to notify your bank immediately, and law enforcement as well when there are concerns there may be fraudulent transactions. Also, engage in steps that if you become the victim of identity theft, credit bureaus and others are aware of the information.”

“The quick identification of these individuals and the halting of their illegal skimming operations shows an absolute commitment to excellence, pursuit of justice, and incredible collaboration among all the law enforcement agencies,” Etowah County District Attorney Jody Willoughby said. “I am proud to see that encouraged.”

If you suspect any fraudulent activity on your bank account, contact your financial institution and then your local law enforcement agency.