At first, this sounds like a straightforward case of unauthorized credit card charges, but investigators are about to discover something much more interesting. The alleged victim didn't just notice suspicious transactions. He started following the digital trail, and that trail appears to lead directly back to someone connected to the restaurant where the card was used. >> You know, if I get anything wrong. >> So, you and your family member went out to eat June 15th. You guys have the same credit card, and JetBlue >> No, mine was June 21st. >> June 21st. Okay. June 21st of this year, 2025. And you guys have the same credit card, right? A JetBlue Barclay credit card. Just, you know, one is Okay, one is in your name, one's in his name. You guys split the check somewhere and accidentally swapped cards. >> Exactly. >> Right? Okay. You didn't notice until on July 11th, which was the day before you reported it, that there were some transactions you didn't you didn't conduct, right? >> Yeah, so we started going down the list of, you know, what was Just to make sure, you know, so we can either pay each other back or And I started going down the list, and he was just like, "Oh, I only went to two places that I remember with the card." And he was like, "One of them was Walmart, and then one was this restaurant right after." He's like, "I haven't used the card since then." So, then >> Okay, and the restaurant that was on there was a Chibo Linarro? >> Yeah, yeah. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> That you guys found was in Green Acres on 10th Avenue. >> Yeah. >> Right? And then, um, you guys went through and also noticed that there was a JetBlue transaction. >> I've never been there, so >> Okay, so you've never been there. You knew that he he conducted that. He said he did that. >> Yeah, yeah. He's like, "Yeah, I go to this one." He's like, "Yeah, that's that's fine. I'll pay you back for that one." >> Okay. And that one was on June 29th. >> Yes. >> Okay. So, he went to that restaurant that day, but you also noticed, uh, more transactions that he said he didn't do for JetBlue. >> Yep. >> And that was for an airplane ticket. >> Yes. >> And then for like a movie ticket or something for $19. >> Yeah, I we went down the whole list of everything from that day from the day we we swapped cars. We I went all the way up and see all the transactions. >> Okay. >> And we kind of just talked about which ones we did and which ones were not ours. I'm sorry. >> You and your wife were able to using the e-ticket number, which was on your bank >> Yes. >> statement, you were able to look up that flight that was booked, right? >> and then it just showed up the person's ticket, which gave me all the information on there. >> Okay. And then that person's ticket, because I'm looking at what you sent me now, it showed that your card was used as the last four. It was on July um >> I think it said like the first. >> July 1st, but it was that's the day it posted on your account. So, um let me just see. So, you sent me >> Yeah, so they purchased the ticket. And then pretty much I just called in. Actually, the the the credit card company gave me the name. >> Oh, the credit card company gave you the name? >> I said I'm trying to figure out these charges." I was like, "I didn't purchase any ticket." I was like, "Can you see like what the ticket's for and if there's a name on it?" And they're the ones that actually gave me the name. That's how I was able to >> And then you guys were able to find it online. Okay. >> We just put it into Instagram and Facebook and then that name came up. And honestly, if it wasn't because the name on there had the name of the restaurant on it, but I wouldn't have put it together cuz I was like >> So, but the JetBlue the JetBlue ticket you guys found from the ticket that was on your on your um >> Yeah, it was on the from the Yes. Yes. >> Yeah, so that was an e-ticket number. And that um and that pulled up with a traveler Mrs. on her booking, right? And then um you said then later on you contacted the credit card company. >> Yes. >> Okay. You disputed that, right? >> Yeah. Yeah, that's it. I already got a new card. >> Okay. You already got a new card and you're waiting for the statement. >> Yeah. Yeah, I'm waiting for this for the billing cycle to end so I can see like all the details and everything on there. It closes on the 19th, so. >> So then you took this name and you guys looked it up on Instagram, right? >> Yeah. >> And on this name's Instagram profile, it said that the name of that restaurant that your your family member went to, right? That Mr. Socio went to? The Chibo L'Osteria & Meloni, I don't know how to say it. >> I don't know either. >> Okay. All right, so you found that and you were like wow, you know, these are connected and that's when you contacted law enforcement, right? >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Okay. And I just want to confirm that you do not know this person, Ms. Sabrina Amalia Perez Martinez? >> Yeah. >> And they did not book this ticket? >> And then I did ask too when I was calling the credit card, you The only reason those two stuck out the most was cuz they were both entered manually. >> They were entered manually, is that what your credit card company said? >> Yeah, they >> Okay, like they weren't swiped or tapped, someone entered the cards manually. >> Yeah, she was like these two were entered manually out of all the other transactions. I had one more transaction on there that was something that comes out automatically. So I told them that one that's me cuz I have my card set up automatically. These other ones I don't know what it was. >> Okay. >> Those were the only two that she said these two were entered manually, so. >> Okay. >> they're red flagged or red flagged or whatever you want to call it cuz I've never >> Did you give that name to Mr. Socio? The Instagram, did you show it to him? Did you say like, "Hey, do you recognize this girl?" >> Uh yeah, yeah. >> What did he say? >> Uh he said he doesn't know. He said it was it was it was his first time there. It was his wife's like third time there. So she's the one that actually recommended the spot, so. >> Oh, okay. So he knows the girl. >> before, yeah. And it was his first time over there, so he's like, "I don't know anybody. He's like, "I don't know anybody over here." >> All right. And I do just want to confirm that you do want to prosecute, right? >> Yes. >> Okay. All right, is there anything else that you want to add to the statement? >> That's it. >> Okay. >> That's it. As of right now, I just know those two charges, but I don't know if anything else is posting or pending, but it shouldn't cuz because I canceled the card. >> Yeah, yeah, you noticed it and then >> Yeah, so >> just needed to cancel the card and get a new card. Okay. All right, that will conclude this statement. Just raise your right hand one more time. Do you swear affirm that everything you said in this statement is the truth and nothing but the truth to the best of your knowledge? >> Yes. >> Okay, and that will conclude this statement at 14:43 hours. I'm Detective O'Connor, ID 37164. This is Deputy Cruz, ID 9090. >> Mhm. >> And you speak a little bit of English? >> Yes, a little bit I understand, but I speak in Spanish. >> Fluent Spanish? >> Yes. >> Okay. All right, so I'm going to have my partner here read you Miranda in Spanish so that you understand, okay? >> Okay. >> I'll read the Spanish one. Oh, you're good. Okay, what is your first and last name? >> Lorena. >> Okay, so the receipt that I had you looking at >> El recibo que ella le le hizo que usted mirara. >> from June 29th >> de junio 29 >> Mhm. Um, with that customer for >> por ese cliente por la cantidad de 77 >> Okay, did did you conduct that transaction? >> Usted hizo esa transacción? >> Eh, sí, pero yo working here. >> Yeah, but you were his server? >> Usted fue la mesera de él? >> Claro, pero no recuerdo en lo que pasa. >> But she doesn't remember it well. >> Okay, so this is this was the customer. Was this Was this the customer? >> Ese era el cliente? >> [music] >> Um, so just so I know how things work. When you you're a waitress, right? >> Usted es mesera, verdad? >> So when you have a customer >> [music] >> and they pay you, do you swipe the card? >> Usted es la mesera, cuando le pagan a usted, usted pasa la tarjeta? >> Sí. >> Oh, no, no, no, nosotros no, ellos. >> They do. >> They swipe the card. >> No, no, no, she says is the waitress will hold the the terminal and the customer will swipe the card. >> Okay, I have a flight plane >> The the customer if they punch the >> the card >> the card >> Okay, so the customer, so you don't ever walk away with the credit card. Okay, no, they put the card in there. Okay, so then how did you use that credit card to book a flight to Santa Domingo? For July 20th. >> No, I haven't do that. No, I haven't used that card because I don't even recognize the person. >> It's not about you recognizing the person. There is a flight booked to Santa Domingo. >> I don't remember. >> You don't remember. Okay. So my question was so you don't remember anything about this flight? >> She said no, I don't and I said so who booked ticket? I don't know. >> But your mom is in Santa Domingo right now, right? >> She is on vacation. >> Okay, she was just supposed to go see your mom, right? >> No. No, because I'm still here working. I always go to I go to Dominican Republic. >> I go to Dominican Republic monthly. Okay. >> We live all here. >> We all live here. Okay. Do you have um pictures in your phone from that day? Uh June 29th. >> Only my photos normal. >> I don't know about that. >> Only my photos normal. Equal is June >> It was purchased on July 1st. The flight. What money did you use for this flight? There's other two passengers. JetBlue. Fort Lauderdale to Santo Domingo, July 20th, and then August 5th you come back here. The credit card number ending in That credit card, MasterCard ending in was your customer's credit card. I asked I keep pushing the issue like how how did this card was used to pay for that ticket? She said that's exactly what she would like to know. So, she's saying she has no idea how that happened. You don't know how you did it. Who purchased the ticket? So, I asked her like who completed the transaction? I'm not asking her about the card. I just want to know who put the information, the name, the date of birth. And know that. >> Here's where the pressure really starts building. The detective isn't asking her to explain some vague accusation. He's laying out a specific flight, specific travel dates, multiple passengers, and the customer's card number connected to the purchase. When investigators can connect financial records to a real-world transaction, simply saying I don't know may not be enough to make the evidence disappear. >> And she says, "I don't know." And I say, "Well, after that was completed, you took pictures with your phone." And she says that she doesn't understand how that credit card information got there. Um she says when people when when those people came, I didn't take their card. They they paid me and I said, how "How many people were in the table?" >> Mhm. >> She doesn't remember. >> Okay. All right, tell her that this is her last chance to tell the truth. She either want to tell me the truth or not, but I know what happened. >> [clears throat] >> Am I ready or not? Am I ready or not? >> The woman was charged with grand theft, credit card fraud, and identity theft after repeatedly denying any knowledge of the transaction. The investigation ultimately led to serious criminal charges. Cases involving stolen card information can carry multiple allegations because one act may involve the unlawful use of financial information, identity-related offenses, and the value of the money or property involved. And this case is a reminder of just how quickly a single suspicious credit card charge can unravel into a full criminal investigation.