VSP News Release-Incident
STATE OF VERMONT
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY
VERMONT STATE POLICE
NEWS RELEASE
CASE#: 24B2006358
RANK/TROOPER FULL NAME: Trooper Stacia Geno
STATION: Royalton
CONTACT#: 802-234-9933
DATE/TIME: 12/19/24, approximately 1545 hours.
INCIDENT LOCATION: Bethel Central Market, Bethel
DATE/TIME: 12/18/24, approximately 1700 hours
INCIDENT LOCATION: Skip Mart, Rochester
SUMMARY OF INCIDENT: On 12/19/24 State Police received a call from Bethel Central Market advising of a possible credit card scam that had just occurred at the store. The owner of the store advised this same incident occurred at his Rochester store the day prior. Three males came into the store and purchased a large amount of cigarettes. They made small purchases of approximately $200 worth of cigarettes approximately 3-4 times. Their method of purchase was tap to pay with their phones, but claimed the phone was not working and manually entered the credit card number.
After a few weeks, the purchases are disputed by the actual card owner and the transaction is cancelled by the credit card company. This leaves the owner of the store with lost revenue. The males involved in this scam have been operating a U-Haul van and where in the St. Albans area the night of 12/18/24.
Vermont State Police advise to use caution when these types of transactions occur. Any store owner who believes they have been a victim of this scam, please contact Trooper Geno at the Royalton Barracks 802-234-9933.
Trooper Stacia Geno
Vermont State Police
B Troop - Royalton Barracks
2011 VT Route 107
Bethel, VT 05032
(802)234-9933
stacia.geno@vermont.gov
