A masseuse has been arrested for fraud after allegedly using a client’s credit card information for several transactions at Sam’s Club in Lady Lake.
On Sept. 23, deputies began investigating fraudulent charges on a credit card involving 28-year-old Melissa Sue Harmon, according to an arrest report from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office.
The owner of Boring Construction in Ocala advised that he had found his company’s credit card had fraudulent transactions. However, he still had the card, and it had never gone missing, the report said.
The first unauthorized charge on his American Express for Boring & Associates came up for $454.43 at Sam’s Club in Lady Lake on Sept. 1. The next was on Sept. 3 for a $235.82 utility payment to the City of Belleview. The last two were at the same Sam’s Club for $348.83 and $381.91 on Sept. 6 and Sept. 21, respectively, the report said.
The owner contacted Sam’s Club and learned the purchases using his card were online orders for curbside pickup. He then called the City of Belleview utilities and was told the account that paid was associated with the address of 11460 SE 61st Ave., Belleview. The primary resident of the apartment was Harmon, the report said.
The owner knew she ran a mobile massage service because she had given him multiple massages. He had never given her permission to use his credit card information and believed she had financial trouble due to her asking him to pre-pay for future massages, the report said.
A deputy later went to Belleview City Hall to get receipts of the last several payments made on the account. The most recent payment with the owner’s card was made on Sept. 3 using the name of Harmon’s grandfather, along with a fake address and phone number. The payment prior was made with another name, and the one before that was Harmon’s name and address listed on the payment, the report said.
During the investigation, the deputy discovered Harmon’s grandfather lived in Boynton Beach. He was also married to the listed renter of Harmon’s apartment. He stated he did not make any utility payments for Harmon, who was the only known resident at the apartment, the report said.
He went on to say his wife had dementia, and Harmon took advantage of her. She convinced his wife to sign the lease to her apartment even though they do not live in Marion County, the report said.
The deputy also confirmed two scan-and-go transactions at Sam’s Club on Sept. 1 and 6 were done by Harmon. She used a membership ID belonging to another woman who allowed Harmon and her mother to borrow it, the report said.
Harmon was ultimately arrested Monday evening on a warrant charging her with fraudulent use of a debit card over $100 and fraudulent use of personal identification. She was transported to Marion County Jail and released after posting $5,000 bond.