Topic: Todays Strib, not ALtrib
started by: The Game
Posted by The Game on Dec. 27 2007,4:25 pm
Man charged with stealing customers’ credit dataA southern Minnesota man is accused of plotting to use credit-card numbers to buy goods in the Burnsville area.
By TIM HARLOW and EMILY JOHNS, Star Tribune staff writers
Last update: December 27, 2007 - 12:07 AM
A man who runs an automobile dealership and parts business in southern Minnesota has been charged with stealing customers' credit-card numbers and racking up at least $20,000 in fraudulent charges in the Burnsville area with the help of an accomplice, according to authorities.
Mark A. Misgen, who owns M & S Auto and Maggio's Pizza in Ellendale, was charged on Friday with felony charges of identity theft, financial transaction card fraud, aiding and abetting financial transaction card fraud, and aiding and abetting theft by swindle.
Misgen conspired with an acquaintance to make fake credit cards using the card numbers of former customers, then using the fakes to buy gift cards, electronics, jewelry, vacuum cleaners and other merchandise at Burnsville stores in early November, the criminal complaint said.
Police plan to charge Misgen's accomplice this week, according to Dakota County Attorney Jim Backstrom.
Phone calls seeking comment from Misgen at his home and restaurant went unanswered Wednesday afternoon. A phone number for M & S Auto was not in service.
Burnsville Police Sgt. Jef Behnken began investigating after a man reported eight fraudulent transactions on his card on Nov. 5 and 6. Five other victims reported unauthorized transactions on their cards between Nov. 5 and 10, with losses ranging from $800 to $4,201.
According to the complaint, the six victims had bought items in person or over the Internet from M & S Auto in Ellendale within the past one or two years. Ellendale is located on Interstate 35 between Owatonna and Albert Lea.
A loss-prevention specialist at the Burnsville Center Sears store told authorities that on Nov. 10 a man -- later identified as Misgen's acquaintance -- tried to buy $700 worth of tools and gift cards, but left when "a clerk asked a manager to verify the information for the purchase."
The clerk caught the license plate of the pickup truck the suspect and his acquaintance drove off in. Authorities traced the truck to Misgen's auto shop, and Misgen said he had allowed his acquaintance to test drive the truck.
In several cases, store clerks using a photo lineup identified Misgen's acquaintance as the person who used credit cards to buy items at Cub Foods, Office Max, the Burnsville Center Sears and the mall's Customer Service Center.
Misgen told investigators that his acquaintance had taken the credit-card numbers from his office or computer and used them to make the fake cards.
Behnken said search warrants were issued to search the suspect's home, auto parts store and the pizza shop and they "revealed fruits of the crimes."
Misgen told police that he had received the stolen items as gifts from his acquaintance, and he accepted the gifts even though he thought it was suspicious.
Posted by This is my real name on Dec. 27 2007,7:46 pm
Anyone convicted of identity theft should serve a minimum of one year in prison for every $1,000 stolen. Hard time, in general population - with the murderers, armed robbers, and rapists.White collar crime or not, this affects a lot of people. It might not be physical harm that it causes the victims, but the effects can last for years while they try to get things straightened out.
I hope every one of his customers, past and present, checks their credit report.
Posted by grassman on Dec. 27 2007,8:07 pm
(This is my real name @ Dec. 27 2007,7:46 pm)
QUOTE
Anyone convicted of identity theft should serve a minimum of one year in prison for every $1,000 stolen. Hard time, in general population - with the murderers, armed robbers, and rapists.
White collar crime or not, this affects a lot of people. It might not be physical harm that it causes the victims, but the effects can last for years while they try to get things straightened out.
I hope every one of his customers, past and present, checks their credit report.
White collar crime or not, this affects a lot of people. It might not be physical harm that it causes the victims, but the effects can last for years while they try to get things straightened out.
I hope every one of his customers, past and present, checks their credit report.
You are absolutely right. These people who steal like this, are low life big time losers. They have no concience what so ever. I say remove a finger for every grand too.
Posted by hmmmnoidea on Dec. 28 2007,8:23 am
What he did if he did it is no worse than what Eaton did, no difference other than one was a company and one was a person. theft is theft dont matter who it is from, and before you start whinning I thnk Eaton should be in prison too. She should be no where near anything to do with the city.
Posted by TameThaTane on Dec. 28 2007,11:04 am
So...I get free stuff from stores all the time. When I buy, say 10 of one item, I place one item on the conveyer belt and leave the other 9 items in the cart. Many times they never ring up the 9 items in the cart and I leave with free stuff. Is that stealing if I don't notify them when I learn of the mistake when I get home? Do they notify me when I'm overcharged?
Posted by Spidey on Dec. 28 2007,1:08 pm
(TameThaTane @ Dec. 28 2007,11:04 am)
QUOTE
So...I get free stuff from stores all the time. When I buy, say 10 of one item, I place one item on the conveyer belt and leave the other 9 items in the cart. Many times they never ring up the 9 items in the cart and I leave with free stuff. Is that stealing if I don't notify them when I learn of the mistake when I get home?
Do they notify me when I'm overcharged?
Do they notify me when I'm overcharged?
What you do is pure theft. You can include yourself into the statistical pool of thieves. This is why we are all paying higher prices for things ... to make up for buffoon's who walk out with items that are not paid for.
You learn of this mistake "after" you get home? I don't think so. I believe you close your eyes until you get home and then say "oops" with a smile on your face while gloating about it on a forum.
I have had this same thing happen to me once. I had something on the lower part of my cart, and when I got out to my truck I discovered that I had forgotten to put it on the conveyor belt. I went back in and paid for it.
I have also noticed overcharges on my receipts. I go to them with it and they always make it right. No, I wouldn't sit around waiting for them to call me about it because they would never discover it.
Posted by Botto 82 on Dec. 28 2007,1:21 pm
(TameThaTane @ Dec. 28 2007,11:04 am)
QUOTE
So...I get free stuff from stores all the time. When I buy, say 10 of one item, I place one item on the conveyer belt and leave the other 9 items in the cart. Many times they never ring up the 9 items in the cart and I leave with free stuff. Is that stealing if I don't notify them when I learn of the mistake when I get home?
Do they notify me when I'm overcharged?
Do they notify me when I'm overcharged?
Karma will sort that all out.
This probably explains his total lack of a love life.
Posted by hot84svo on Dec. 28 2007,2:21 pm
I consider leaving a store with items not on a paid receipt theft.
Posted by TameThaTane on Dec. 28 2007,2:37 pm
really? What do you consider this. I see an item listed on the shelf at $8.99. I put in in my cart and when I go through check out the store rings it up at $11.99. Is the store stealing? Funny, this happens all the time and never see any retaler charged. If you happen to catch it they may say they're sorry and not overbill you, but who catches them all?
QUOTE
have also noticed overcharges on my receipts.
What about the ones you don't notice? Surely you don't memorize the shelf price of every item in your cart which could be hundreds of items. What about weights and measures. When gubmit testers looked at Hy-Vee they saw their figures all wrong and oddly enough every mistake shorted the customer. Would that be theft? I never saw anyone up on theft charges in any case of described.
Posted by grassman on Dec. 28 2007,4:35 pm
3 t, once again you cloud the issue. It does not always have to be about YOU. Get a life you theiving bastard!
Posted by This is my real name on Dec. 28 2007,5:18 pm
QUOTE
What he did if he did it is no worse than what Eaton did, no difference other than one was a company and one was a person. theft is theft dont matter who it is from, and before you start whinning I thnk Eaton should be in prison too. She should be no where near anything to do with the city.
Who exactly was whining, and what does Jean Eaton have to do with this? And on that note, most people on this forum would probably agree that Eaton should have done time and that she shouldn't have anything to do with the city.
QUOTE
I see an item listed on the shelf at $8.99. I put in in my cart and when I go through check out the store rings it up at $11.99. Is the store stealing? Funny, this happens all the time and never see any retaler charged. If you happen to catch it they may say they're sorry and not overbill you, but who catches them all?
Sometimes it's a simple mistake. For all the price changes they have to make all the time, mistakes are likely to happen. This actually does make the news if it's a regular occurrence at any given store. As far as if the retailer is charged with anything - not always, but if they are you can bet they get a sweet deal with no jail time - just a class action suit at best. Kind of like how if you kill one person, go to prison; kill 20,000 people, you get to live in exile.
Posted by banquo on Dec. 28 2007,6:23 pm
I'm assuming this is Misgen Auto Salvage. Is this correct? I've done business with Misgen's for years. Down to earth kinda people, never have left feeling like I got ripped off as with some other salvage yards. I am surprised by these charges, it just doesn't make sense.
Posted by TameThaTane on Dec. 28 2007,6:25 pm
Did you pay with a credit card? 
Posted by hmmmnoidea on Dec. 28 2007,10:10 pm
I dont think it has anything do the junk yard. I think its his nephew. 3T if you get caught walking out the door with that FREE stuff you will see your name in the paper with Kieth Register'sQUOTE
what does Jean Eaton have to do with this
like I said theft is theft
Posted by AEM on Dec. 31 2007,12:24 am
Your assessment is correct; it is his nephew. However, not only is it his nephew, but my brother…The article fails to gain credibility in my eyes due to the lack of cited sources. To begin, the article is titled “Man charged with stealing customers’ credit data.” Mark has yet to be proven guilty; rather, all of these charges are pending. The aricle fails to state this anywhere throughout.
Furthermore, I would like to shed some light on the current situation. My brother has no prior record; conversely, “his accomplice,” as stated in the article, does. The article also states, “Police plan to charge Misgen's accomplice this week, according to Dakota County Attorney Jim Backstrom.” However, that failed to happen, even though they are aware of his current location.
In addition to all of these things, the article fails to mention that Mark is the father of five children. He is an amazing farther, as well as a wonderful husband, son, brother, etc. He has more love for his family than I can express through words. If anyone could have witnessed his actions during our family Christmas, they would understand the loving character he possesses.
I ask that you keep Mark and our family in your prayers through this difficult time.
Posted by TameThaTane on Dec. 31 2007,6:33 am
Leave Jesus out of this. If I pray for anyone it'll be the customers dealing which the nightmare of identity theft thank you. 
Posted by Whiskero on Dec. 31 2007,9:46 am
Amen to that TTT.Just because your brother, AEM, is a loving person, etc., doesn't give him or anyone the right to steal from someone else. I sure do hope, for the customers sakes, that this is an error, and that no one did anything wrong.
Posted by White Pride on Jan. 02 2008,4:06 pm
Even the best of us can commit crimes... A family I know had a father that preached how much he was against child molesters, was well respected at his workplace and public, all the while was molesting and raping his own daughter, and molesting his own son. If the acused in this situation is indeed innocent, I will hope the truth will set them free... but if they are guilty, I don't care how good they are to their family, since they potentially ruined the lives of many others. Let em get the book thrown at em!
Posted by gary grobowski on Jan. 03 2008,12:08 am
Off topic, but does anyone know anything about the Jaycees? I heard they had some internal "problems"?
Posted by TameThaTane on Jan. 03 2008,5:43 am
The big grobowski strikes again!
Posted by justmealmn on Jan. 03 2008,9:16 am
Can't you tell....they have been having problems over the last few years. They lost the demo derby, quit doing the Sandbox sales...so when you loose your money making items and have a bunch of guys in there as members that try to run it the wrong way thats what happens to a group. The later years and the up and coming members of the whos whos club of Albert Lea quit the Jaycees. So there went people in the know of how to run things and that just left ones that brought it down to where it is today.
Posted by Counterfeit Fake on Jan. 04 2008,1:04 pm
Why would you not just start a new topic about the Jaycees rather than hijack this thread completely? It isn't like the two topics are even kind of related.
Posted by gary grobowski on Jan. 05 2008,8:29 pm
ya, that's a first.
Posted by hymiebravo on Jan. 06 2008,9:33 pm
(gary grobowski @ Jan. 05 2008,8:29 pm)
QUOTE
ya, that's a first.
Well you know Gary--last time I checked two wrongs still didn't make a right.
Posted by gary grobowski on Jan. 06 2008,10:15 pm
Not sure that it is "wrong" it is part of the free flowing nature of the groups such as this. Kind of sitting down to supper with the family after work, one topic comes up, sometimes the drift, but often time come back.
Posted by Counterfeit Fake on Jan. 07 2008,8:22 am
But it is easy enough to start a new topic and keep things organized. If someone who knows something about the Jaycees doesn't read this post they won't know to respond. If you start a new topic, that will catch their eye. Or there could be the problem if someone comes back later to respond to your post but can't find it because it is hidden in an unrelated one and they don't want to wade through every other post to find it.