UPDATE: Seven credit card fraud scheme suspects' cases headed to grand jury

KANAWHA COUNTY, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- A group of people believed to be from North Carolina accused in a credit card fraud scheme appeared before a magistrate Friday.

All seven of the men had their cases bound over to a grand jury after a preliminary hearing.

The magistrate in the case also adjusted the suspects $25,000 property bond to cash only.

Arrested and charged back on Sept. 13 were Sei Curtis Bubadin, Abraham Dousuah, William Shorter, Korderius Worley, Fabio Wolfe, Jacoby Berry, and Frederick Clark.

Another man was able to get away from South Charleston Police officers as they stopped the men outside of the Charleston Town Center.

Chief of Detectives Lt. P.C. Rader said they know the identity of that man and they continue to look for him.

South Charleston Police were tipped off to the men's alleged criminal activity on Sept. 13 when they were at Kohl's in South Charleston.

That is when South Charleston Police detectives got a tip that the group opened several credit accounts at the store and was suspected of using fake identification to do so.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- Seven men believed to be from Charlotte, North Carolina, are in jail in Charleston after police say their activity Wednesday in South Charleston involved fraudulent use of credit cards.

South Charleston Police were tipped off to the men's alleged criminal activity Wednesday morning when they were at Kohl's in South Charleston.

That is when South Charleston Police detectives got a tip that the group opened several credit accounts at the store and was suspected of using fake identification to do so.

One of the men made a purchase worth about $1,000.

The suspects' cars seen were seen on Kohl's security with tags from Tennesee and Georgia.

Detectives tracked them down at the Holiday Inn in South Charleston.

One of the men tried to rent two hotel rooms with Jacuzzis for $202.27, each using credit cards that police say belonged to someone else. The purchase was denied.

That's when the men left the hotel and detectives followed them to the Charleston Town Center Mall. Fearing the group would split, they confronted them, taking them into custody in the former Sears Auto Center Parking lot across the street from the mall.

Police confronted eight men in two cars. One of them ran away through the Town Center Mall parking garage and is still on the run.

Arrested and charged Wednesday are: Sei Curtis Bubadin, Abraham Dousuah, William Shorter, Korderius Worley, Fabio Wolfe, Jacoby Berry, and Frederick Clark.

Dousuah, the suspect who was denied when he tried to rent the hotel rooms, initially gave South Charleston Police his fake ID.

SCPD found a printer, a laptop, and a stack of blank checks in the trunk of one of the cars. They also discovered a device often used to re-encode credit cards in one of the vehicles.

They say the vehicle also smelled like marijuana.

Detectives overheard suspect Bubadin say he'd been arrested for the same thing in Virginia a week ago but was able to make bond.

All seven men are being held in jail on a $25,000 property-bond only and that property has to be located in West Virginia. All are charged with conspiracy to commit identity theft, a felony charge that carries a one- to five-year prison sentence and $10,000 fine.

Their preliminary hearing is set for Sept. 21.

Police say, two weeks ago, they arrested another group from Illinois; running the exact same scheme. Investigators are calling it a "concerning trend."

Police are asking everyone with credit accounts to monitor them closely. They say setting up a requirement for proof of identification when using the card can help.

They are also asking store employees to keep an eye out for suspicious activity; like people opening several accounts at once, attempting large purchases on those accounts, and being wary or entering credit card information manually.

KANAWHA COUNTY, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- Seven people arrested Wednesday in a credit card fraud scheme all face felony charges, investigators say.

From the Charlotte, North Carolina area, the suspects face conspiracy to commit identity theft charges. That carries a one- to five-year prison sentence and up to a $10,000 fine.

All of the suspects were jailed on a $25,000 property-only bond.

Their preliminary hearing is set for Sept. 21.

Police say the men were using stolen or fake IDs and credit cards to make purchases.

Earlier on Wednesday, police said the suspects were not cooperating.

KANAWHA COUNTY, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- Seven people have been arrested in a credit card fraud scheme.

According to South Charleston Police, the seven men are not from our area.

Police say the men are using stolen or fake IDs and credit cards to make purchases.

Officers say the men were arrested at the mall, but this case has nothing to do with that location.

According to police, the men had made purchases Wednesday at other locations.

The men aren't cooperating with police.

Keep checking WSAZ Mobile and WSAZ.com for the latest information.