CRIME Chat-line call leads to theft by deception

YOUNGSTOWN -- A Gypsy Lane man talking on a chat line sponsored by Global Specialty Chat Lines told police this week that he was the victim of a theft by deception on April 10.
The man said his call was interrupted and a male voice asked for his debit card number to update the account. The victim gave his number and was transferred back to his call.
The next day, April 11, the Gypsy Lane man grew suspicious and went to National City Bank to cancel his card. The bank advised him that two purchases had been made not long after his call on the chat line -- $115 to Sprint and $1,264 to Dell Computer Co. Five more purchases were attempted after the card was canceled.
Patrolman Sam Mosca called the chat-line number and learned that the business has had this kind of a problem before, but with women asking for a customer's debit card number.
The victim contacted Dell and learned that a computer had been sent to Dallas, Texas. The Dell representative refused to give the address during the call, saying the address would be given to police. The case has been assigned to a detective.