Sea Isle City Man Charged with Credit Card Fraud

AVALON — Avalon Police have charged a 39-year old Sea Isle City man with various offenses following a two week investigation involving the fraudulent use of a credit card.
On Tuesday, April 27, Avalon Police arrested and charged Shane Libbey, 39, of Sea Isle City on charges that he swindled an elderly Avalon resident out of more than $45,000 through the unauthorized use of the victim’s credit card, which was connected to her money market fund. Libbey was charged with:
• Fraudulent use of a credit card (multiple counts)
• Impersonation (identity theft)
• Theft
On Monday, April 12, the victim went to the Avalon Police Department and informed them that someone used her debit card and made numerous charges for various merchandise and services from 2008 through March, 2010.
The victim identified the multiple charges on a recent statement she received from the financial institution.
Detective Joseph Gaughan of Avalon Police Department investigated. He discovered that much of the merchandise was ordered online and mailed to a home in the 200 block of 57th Street, Sea Isle City.
Avalon and Sea Isle City police departments conducted a search warrant at the home on April 27 and recovered much of the stolen merchandise.
Based on the investigation and evidence gathered during the search warrant, Libbey was taken to the Avalon Police Station, charged with the offenses listed above, and taken to county jail on $50,000 cash bail.
Vendors where the charges were made included: Comcast, Bradco Supply Company, Overstock.com, Waterbed Doctor, Progressive Insurance, and Split Rock Lodge Vacation Resort.
Libbey allegedly purchased new furniture and household items with the credit card, along with a holiday vacation, automobile insurance, and veterinary care for an animal. The total amount of the charges was about $45,000.
The victim met Libbey on an Internet Web site, and eventually hired him to perform some construction work at her Avalon home. The victim admitted to Avalon police that she did not open nor check the statements from her debit card account until recently when she noticed the fraudulent charges that she did not make.
Avalon Police Chief David Dean urged all citizens and residents to closely check and scrutinize their bank and credit card statements monthly to help combat fraud and identity theft.