Bankcard Empire claimed that it was selling credit card swiping machines, which were sent to victims via certified mail to get their signatures. The company’s operator then used the signatures to forge credit card forms and put charges against the victims for services. Authorities found that thousands of dollars were bilked from victims across the country.
In 2010, law enforcement authorities raided four Bankcard Empire locations in Phoenix and arrested Mersky.
The FRS seized cash, bank accounts, 12 vehicles, 14 parcels of real property and miscellaneous personal property pursuant to the court-issued search and seizure warrants on the offices of Bankcard Empire and its affiliates.
The FRS recovered more than $1,800,000 through the forfeiture and liquidation of the seized property. Advocates for the Office of Victim Services (OVS) worked with victims to determine the amount of their losses from the Bankcard Empire scam.
According to the Arizona AG’s offices, the state law allows law enforcement to use civil forfeiture statutes to seize and forfeit property that’s been used in criminal activity and compensate victims who suffered economic loss.
