Credit Card Fraud Victims at California Gas Station Increase to 282

Sierra Madre, CAThus far, detectives have identified 282 credit card fraud victims at a gas station in Sierra Madre, California, the Los Angeles Times reports.

The authorities are reportedly now turning their attention to a man who allegedly used a clone card at a bank in Montebello, the news source said.

Sierra Madre Mayor Jose Mosca said that the US Secret Service would be joining the investigation, as overall losses stemming from the fraud have reached $82,000.

"The nature of this crime and the number of people it has affected is highly unusual in Sierra Madre," said Mosca.

According to police, 75 percent of the victims have been local residents using their credit cards at the gas station at 50 S. Baldwin Ave. since July.

Sierra Madre Police Chief Marilyn Diaz explained that some of the debit and credit cards used at the gas station have been cloned, making a fake card that uses the person's stolen credit card number.

According to the Federal Trade Commission, to avoid becoming a victim of credit card fraud, one should make sure to not leave cards or receipts lying around.