WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) — A Wausau man is accused of purchasing hundreds of credit card numbers on the dark web in an attempt to make fraudulent purchases with them.
Everest Metro Police say 45-year-old Jason Neidert purchased the numbers from a broker in Russia, then used a magnetic strip programming device to create duplicate cards. He was then spotted on camera attempting to use the cards at a Kwik Trip car wash self-pay terminal on numerous occasions.
Officials from the store say he was spotted attempting to swipe as few as six and as many as 60 cards at a time on several dates between late August and early October. Nearly all of the cards were declined.
Neidert also attempted to purchase a pair of gift cards inside the store, telling the cashier that his card was “acting up” and he wanted to make sure it worked. One payment went through, another was declined.
Court records show Neidert faces 17 different felony and misdemeanor counts in two separate cases including one count of fraudulent use of a credit card for less than $2,500 and eight counts of improperly possessing a credit card scanning device.
Those devices can be used to re-program any card with a magnetic strip, such as a used gift card or old hotel key card, into acting as a credit card.
The case is set for a preliminary hearing on December 16th.
