Tampa resident and his gang had cheated more than 1,000 people and 35 financial institutions causing loss of $700,000.

Dark Reading Staff, Dark Reading

November 9, 2016

1 Min Read

Michel Lermos-Hernandez of Tampa has been sentenced to more than 16 years in prison for running a credit-card fraud scheme that caused around $700,000 in financial losses to more than 1,000 individuals and 35 financial organizations. He was also ordered to pay compensation of around $714,383 to his victims. His co-conspirators were given jail terms as well.

According to the US Department of Justice (DoJ), Lermos-Hernandez stole credit card data of customers using keyloggoers on payment-card terminals at the International Mall in Tampa and used the account numbers to create fake cards. These cards were then used by his co-conspirators to purchase electronic and other items which were then sold at discounted prices.

In a raid on his residence in 2013, authorities recovered $14,515 in cash and several counterfeit credit cards, among other things. A Mercedes-Benz sedan worth around $130,000 was also seized from his possession, says the DoJ.

Read details here.

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