A former employee of a Little Silver business was being held in jail Wednesday on charges she used pilfered credit-card data to commit identity theft and fraud, borough police say.
Tara Galen, 35, of Brick Township was ordered held in the Monmouth County Correctional Institution on $60,000 bail, without the option to post 10 percent, following her arrest Tuesday by Detective Gregory Oliva.
According to Oliva, Galen was employed at a Little Silver business that he declined to identify when she is alleged to have swiped credit card numbers and other information from customers.
Galen is accused of obtaining personal information of others and applying for credit cards online, in addition to making purchases with fraudulently obtained cards.
So far, police have identified three victims, though “there’s a bunch more,” Oliva said, noting that the investigation is still active. No victims thus far are Little Silver residents, he said.
The alleged crimes began in April of this year and continued through the end of July, Oliva said, noting that Galen is no longer employed at the business.
Oliva said the case is a reminder to consumers to to closely monitor their credit-card and bank statements for irregularities.
