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Florida men arrested in Southern Maine card 'skimming' case

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From left, Roberto Lueje-Rodriguez and Ariel Perez-Calvo (Police photos)

Maine State Police are urging residents of Southern Maine to check their credit and debit card statements today for fraudulent charges in the wake of a skimming operation that occurred in the state this week.

Two Florida men, Ariel Perez-Calvo and Roberto Lueje-Rodriguez, both from the Miami area, were charged with theft by deception.

Lueje-Rodriguez was released Thursday night from the Penobscot County Jail after posting $50,000 bail while Perez-Calvo remained behind bars Friday on $100,000 bail.

Perez-Calvo was taken into custody Wednesday in Portland as he was preparing to board a Miami-bound jet at the Portland Jetport; Rodriguez was arrested at an Old Port hotel.

Police are not sure exactly how and where the pair "skimmed" the numbers but tracked them to Piscataquis County in Central Maine where they were used to made fraudulent purchases of gift cards at Rite Aid, Walgreens, and Hannaford stores, among others

"Skimming" is when information loaded onto a credit or debit cards' magnetic strip is stolen, then attached to a phony card to make purchases off the victim's account.

The suspects are thought to have purchased mostly prepaid Visa cards with the stolen accounts.

The investigation is continuing to determine the full extent of the scam but police say likely tens of thousands of dollars were involved from credit and debit cards issued by several Maine banks and credit unions.

The actual skimming took place in Southern Maine, police say.

State Police urge account holders to check their banking statements for any fraudulent transactions involving purchases of $300-$450 at Rite Aid, Hannaford, or Walgreen retailers between Jan 7-13.

If suspect charges are found on an account, the financial institution that issued the card should be notified immediately.

State Police were assisted by the Portland Police Department, Brewer Police Department, Dover Police Department and Immigration Customs Enforcement.
Anyone who may have information regarding the case is asked to contact Tr. Matt Grant or Tr. Jarod Stedman at the State Police barracks in Bangor at 207-973-3700.

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