Racking Up The Unauthorized Charges
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Monday, September 7, 2020, Caney Police Officer Brad Jackson was contacted by the Atoka Sheriff’s Office stating that Julia Starr needed to file a report of credit card fraud.
Starr told the officer she had given her bank card to Karrie Ranay Benson, 34, of Atoka, and Matthew Howard Whitmire, 44, of Caney, on several occasions to take care of personal business for her.
On Saturday, August 1, 2020, Starr had asked Benson to make a purchase at Walmart and to deliver $50.00 to a friend Starr had borrowed money from.
When Benson had returned that day, she informed Starr that she had delivered the money as requested. On August 14th, the friend contacted Starr stating they had not received any money on the loan.
Starr began looking into her bank statements and noticed several charges she did not recognize or authorize.
Monday, September 7, 2020, Starr logged onto her banking account web site and noticed numerous charges to “Amazon Prime.” Starr stated she did not even know what Amazon Prime was at that time.
It was at this time that Starr contacted the Sheriff’s Office to report someone using her debit card.
Starr disputed three ATM transactions. One transaction occurred at the Caney Day and Night, another transaction occurred at 109 south Jefferson Tushka, Oklahoma. The last ATM transaction occurred at Walmart.
Also disputed are Approximately ten Amazon Prime Video charges. Starr stated these charges caused her to have overdraft fees. Another transaction that is being disputed is to Premier Bankcard.
Benson and Whitmire were interviewed at the Caney Police Department.
Benson said the Amazon Prime videos were an accident. She stated Starr had her attempt to cancel a subscription from an online store that she had purchased greeting cards from, but never received.
Starr had written the debit card number down on a piece of paper so that Benson could cancel the subscription.
Benson said her son is dyslexic and did not know the number written on the card was not his own child support card number. Her child had asked to order movies on prime and was given permission to do so.
She told the officer that she did not realize her tablet had saved Starr’s debit card information.
Benson explained that she is the one who used the card at the ATMs, however, every dime was given to Starr along with receipts. Benson stated Starr had all the receipts to every purchase.
Whitmire said Starr had written a list of things for them, Whitmire and his wife, to pick up and on that list, she had written her pin number for the debit card.
Along with various items Starr wanted, he was asked to withdraw $200.00. Whitmire stated he and his wife bought everything requested of them as well as the money. The items were delivered to Starr along with the money and the receipts.
Whitmire told the officer that on most every occasion his wife had made purchases, and he went to help unload the items. Whitmire said he watched his wife give Starr the money, cards and receipts.
Benson is charged with unauthorized use of credit card (misdemeanor). Whitmire is charged with unauthorized use of credit card (misdemeanor).
