Car Burglars Use Stolen HSA Cards For Spending Spree
Mar 26, 2021, 6:54 PM | Updated: 8:24 pm
AMERICAN FORK, Utah – A string of car burglaries outside gym parking lots expanded across the Wasatch Front. A couple of the break-ins had some of the victims surprised because of how the crooks decided to take and spend their money.
KSL-TV reported on several smash and grab incidents in Davis County on Thursday and now, it appears the burglars hit Utah County as well.
The ones in American Fork were very similar to the others, but a couple of the victims noticed money disappearing from what seemed like an unusual place.
It only takes seconds for a burglar to make quick work of smashing through a window and getting away with a purse. This was captured in a video taken by a Tesla in Clinton.
“Beware and protect yourself,” said Moneka Pace.
Moneka Pace learned the hard way just how quickly it can happen. She believes the same thing happened to her Kia outside of the American Fork Recreation Center.
“And when I came out I found my rear driver side window smashed out, actually, and with glass all over,” she said.
She quickly called to cancel her credit cards.
“There were transactions being real-time emailed to my email account,” said Pace.
The money instead was coming out of her Health Savings Account.
“HSAs are typically for medical supplies or prescriptions, stuff to do with your health,” she said.
Pace said hers was being used to buy gift cards as charges came in from Walgreens stores all over Utah county, adding up to over $3,000 dollars.
“So we saw Pleasant Grove be hit, and then Orem twice and then Provo, and they circled back to Saratoga Springs and Lehi,” she said.
Around that same time, Jordan Gilbert noticed the same thing on his HSA.
The two started comparing notes over text.
“They would charge my card over $500 and they would charge her card for over $500, then my card for $700 and her card for $700, so yeah, exact same charges,” said Gilbert.
Pace and Gilbert were surprised to learn that gift cards could be purchased with a HSA card. Both pointed out this is one more thing that people should look out for.
“You know, you feel violated. You feel, you know, your life is turned upside down,” said Pace.
She said her HSA company will be able to dispute the charges, so she believes she will get back that money.
Anyone who recognizes the man in the surveillance video has been asked to contact Clinton Police.
