Teen employee at Mass. mall accused of going on shopping spree with over $500,000 in fraudulent charges from scam

BOSTN – A Massachusetts Police Department arrested a woman in connection with a credit card scam that allegedly involved the suspect making approximately $500,000 in fraudulent charges.

According to Chief Thomas Browne, on Wednesday, Feb. 22, Burlington Police detectives were called to Lovisa, a jewelry store in the Burlington Mall, 75 Middlesex Turnpike, for a report of a credit card machine breach.

An investigation determined that on three dates in February, items scanned at the register had their price increased, and the cost of the item was then allegedly refunded to a credit card belonging to 19-year-old Ariel Foster of Boston. Eight transactions involved a total loss of $547,187.

Foster was an employee at Lovisa and was determined to have been at the store when the credit card breaches occurred.

A subpoena was served to Foster’s financial institutions, which uncovered a refund transaction from Lovisa America LLC into her bank account. Bank records showed that Foster made several high-priced transactions between Feb. 2 and Feb. 22, including the purchase of more than $35,000 for a Tesla, almost $6,000 to Delta Airlines, more than $20,000 to a hotel in Maui, Hawaii, and almost $5,000 in Louis Vuitton purchases.

On Wednesday, March 8, Burlington Police, along with Boston Police and Lasell University Police executed search warrants on the suspect’s residence and her dormitory at the university. Foster was taken into custody without incident.

Foster was charged with Larceny, released on bail, and will likely be arraigned Friday at Woburn District Court.