Pasco Sheriff’s deputies are trying to track down a man they say used stolen personal information to run a mini identity crime tour through multiple stores across the county last month. The investigation centers on two cases: one in mid-May on U.S. 19 and several more suspicious transactions later in the month in the Wesley Grove shopping corridor. Deputies say the suspect both opened a fraudulent credit account and used a victim’s existing card to make unauthorized purchases.
According to the Tampa Free Press, the first incident unfolded on May 11 at about 5:12 p.m., when an adult Black male walked into a business in the 9400 block of U.S. 19. Investigators say he used a victim’s stolen personal information to sign up for a fraudulent credit card. On May 27, deputies report, the same man went after businesses along Wesley Grove Boulevard, first using a victim’s credit card at a location in the 5900 block, then opening a new account and completing transactions at a store in the 5800 block.
Investigators review surveillance and transactions
Deputies say investigators are now poring over surveillance video and transaction logs from the affected stores to confirm whether the same individual is behind both incidents. The pattern, immediate account activity followed by quick purchases at nearby shops, matches a retail identity fraud tactic investigators frequently see in scam cases.
How to tip investigators
The Pasco Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone with information to call the Crime Tips Line at 1-800-706-2488 and reference case numbers 26018791 and 26019204. Tips can also be submitted online at pascosheriff.com/tips. Officials have urged businesses in the Wesley Grove corridor to review their own security footage and bank statements for anything that lines up with the transactions or behavior described by deputies.
Protecting yourself from identity fraud
For shoppers worried their information might be in the wrong hands, basic vigilance still goes a long way: regularly review account statements, request free credit reports, and consider placing a fraud alert or credit freeze if you suspect misuse. The Federal Trade Commission’s recovery site at IdentityTheft.gov offers step-by-step guidance and an online report that can help victims document the crime for both banks and law enforcement.
