Update: Post Office Clerks Allegedly Attempted to Steal from More than 20 Customers

Abington Police said two Abington Post Office clerks stole, or attempted to steal, more than $50,000 worth of merchandise by ripping off the credit card information of more than 20 customers. Most of the customers were Abington residents.

What did the defendants allegedly purchase with the information? Everything from shoes to vacations to limo rides, according to the criminal complaint.

Abington Post Office clerks Rashaad Calif Schell, 23; and Daryl Matthews, 24, both of Philadelphia, were charged earlier this month with forgery, theft, criminal conspiracy and related charges. Schell and Matthews both waived their preliminary hearings in front of District Judge John Kessler on Friday morning, according to a court clerk.

According to the criminal complaint, Schell admitted to stealing the credit card information of customers by memorizing the numbers and then quickly recording them. He admitted that on at least three occasions, he used the info to purchase Christmas gifts at Toys ‘R Us and to go on two vacations.

Schell then implicated his co-worker, Matthews, and another man from southwest Philadelphia. After interviewing Schell, police then intercepted a phone call between Schell and Matthews in which Matthews offered to send Schell some [credit card] "numbers" so that he can purchase gift cards.

According to the criminal complaint, Matthews gave a written statement fully admitting to his role in the scheme; Matthews said he would lay his cell phone on the counter, set it to “record” and scan the front and the back of the card over his phone, capturing the information. Matthews would then find the victims’ addresses online and would order American Express gift cards, and other items, to be delivered to the victims’ houses. The man from southwest Philadelphia would then sometimes pose as a UPS worker in an attempt to intercept the packages at the victims’ houses, according to the complaint.

Matthews said he would steal credit card numbers “everyday.” On Aug. 26, police obtained a search warrant for Matthews’ phone. Police also searched Matthews’ vehicle and found three American Express gift cards worth a total of $1,600; 10 tickets to Adventure Aquarium; and a spiral notebook containing a lists of names, addresses and credit card numbers.

Though the first instance of credit card fraud appeared to have happened in December 2012, according to the criminal complaint, it appears that police began investigating the scheme in June, when an Abington resident said someone fraudulently purchased $1,400 worth of Amex gift cards, and had them delivered to the Abington resident’s house. In that instance, an unidentified man tried to intercept the package by claiming to be the homeowner.

An investigation determined that more than 20 victims of credit card fraud all had one thing in common — they had been customers at the Abington Post Office, according to the criminal complaint.

Schell and Matthews will both be formally arraigned on Oct. 23.

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