Two women have been arrested in Alpine and accused of hatching a widespread identity theft scheme with multiple victims across Southern California, including San Diego County.
Sheriff’s deputies were alerted to “suspicious activity” at a business near Jacumba on Thursday. When deputies arrived, they discovered the women had left, driving west on Interstate 8, according to a news release from the San Diego Sheriff’s Department.
Deputies stopped their vehicle near Alpine at about 5 a.m. During the traffic, deputies said they discovered the women – identified as Los Angeles residents Nicole Perez and Pamela Travis – had items “that indicated they were involved in large-scale identity theft and credit card fraud,” the news release said.
Deputies said Perez and Travis had dozens of stolen and counterfeit credit and debit cards as well as a counterfeit credit- and debit card-processing equipment.
A number of people are believed to have been victimized by Perez and Travis, deputies said. The investigation is ongoing and deputies believe there may be more victims.
The women were booked in San Diego County Jail on multiple felony counts of identity theft and conspiracy.
