A Chicago, Illinois group apparently targeted the Junction City area in a credit card – check forgery scheme.

Police Chief Tim Brown said four people from the Chicago area have been arrested in the past two weeks in Junction City allegedly using stolen credit card numbers and forged checks to obtain cash advances at businesses and banks. “We believe that’s there more of the individuals involved in this ring. They’re somehow obtaining stolen credit card numbers. They’re placing those stolen credit card numbers on prepaid debit cards, and then they’re going to different businesses and stores and using these to obtain cash advances.”

Brown noted along with the four arrests several thousand dollars in cash has been confiscated.

“There’s more suspects out there. We’re looking for them.”

The chief urged businesses and banks to be on the lookout for those individuals, and be vigilant.

Brown said many of the cash advances are in the $400 to $600 range in some cases, and thousands of dollars are being obtained that way.  He continued to stress that people be vigilant. “In some cases it would be just as simple as asking for ID when people come in and present these cards for cash advances, and / or the forged checks that they’re passing also.” Brown stressed the cards and checks need to be examined closely.

Brown still feels the suspects are still in the area, although they have heard some of them might have fled back to Chicago. That is not clear at this point. Brown estimated police believe  at the very least there may be four or five more suspects involved in addition to those already arrested.