Three Arrested for Hi-Tech ID Theft

by URPC Staff TR , July 30, 2012

SACRAMENTO – On Wednesday July 26th 3 people were arrested and charged with burglary and the unlawful use of personal identifying information.

Gagik Verdyan

Mihran Hakobyan

The arrested were identified as Gagik Verdyan (34), Mihran Hakobyan (27) and Karine Khachaturyan (20). They are each being held pending bail of $2,000,000 or more.

Sheriff’s detectives needed a month with the cooperation of the California Highway Patrol, Sacramento Police Department, San Joaquin Sheriff’s Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation to complete the operation. They recovered thousands of stolen credit card numbers, as well as hundreds of counterfeit California ID cards, counterfeit credit cards and skimming devices.

Karine Khachaturyan

The primary points of thievery were gas station pumps. The skimming devices were secretly installed at the pump without interrupting service or alerting station owners. They are only noticeable if the pump panel is opened.

As detectives now notify banks and their customers concerning the stolen credit card numbers they ask the public not to touch a skimmer if you see one. Rather, please contact local law enforcement and officers will remove the device.