Sylva, N.C. — Two Sylva women, Brittany Danielle McCall, 37, and Kimberly Anne Santy, 43, were arrested on multiple felony charges related to identity theft and financial card theft after attempting to use a stolen Wells Fargo bank card for a purchase.
On January 27, 2024, the victim, a Sylva gas station employee, reported that her bank card had been stolen. She suspected that she had dropped the card while cleaning the bathroom. The victim alerted both the store manager and the police, who started investigating the incident.
Later that same day, McCall and Santy allegedly tried to use the stolen card to purchase a phone plan from Straight Talk. However, the bank flagged the transactions, and they were not approved. Despite the attempted transaction totaling $158, Wells Fargo notified the victim, leading to an investigation by the Sylva Police Department.
Using store security footage, McCall and Santy were identified as the suspects. Both women were known to officers through previous interactions, and a search warrant led to the discovery of the stolen card at their apartment.
The women now face felony charges of identity theft, financial card theft, and aiding and abetting larceny. If convicted, they could face several years in prison. Financial card theft is a Class I felony, while identity theft carries a maximum sentence of 47 months.
As authorities investigate further, consumers are reminded to take steps to protect themselves from fraud, including monitoring accounts regularly, setting up fraud alerts, and avoiding phishing scams.
