Two arrested, charged in elaborate scam

Edmonton police collaborated with Australian Federal Police and New South Wales Police to arrest four people involved in an alleged extortion scheme.

Police have charged two young women in connection to an elaborate credit card scam that allegedly tricked a number of chain stores out of nearly $1 million.

Investigators said they were given information last week, that two women who had been connected to an elaborate credit card scheme were in the city.

It’s alleged the two women were using stolen or counterfeit American Express credit cards, without security chips, to purchase thousands of dollars’ worth in merchandise and gift cards – by overriding cash registers.

Officers found and arrested both women in a south side hotel on Monday, November 12.

When they were arrested, police found the pair had nearly $20,000 in gift cards, up to $10,000 in new clothing and other items, thousands of dollars in receipts, and counterfeit credit cards and pieces of identification.

Police have laid a total of eighteen fraud and theft charges against Meriem Karachira, 21, of Ottawa and Alisa Sarkissian, 20, of Quebec City.