Elliot Castro was just 16 when he got into credit card fraud. Over the next five years, he racked up $2.8 million of illegally purchased Rolex watches, cars, meals at top-end restaurants, and stays at five-star hotels across Europe.“I must’ve made thousands of transactions over the time I was doing this,” Castro told VICE in 2020, part of the documentary series Fakes, Frauds & Scammers, which features various scammers who open up about their dark pasts.
Castro credits his stealing streak to being young and “not giving a f*ck.” “Like most teenagers, I thought I knew everything. I did some pretty sh*tty things,” he said.According to Castro, he “accidentally” stumbled into fraud when he found a credit card on the train as a young teen in Glasgow. Without much thought, he used it to pay for his train tickets to and from school. When he got caught, though, he just kept going.Dropping out of school and lying about his age, Castro secured a job at a mobile phone company. He began stealing credit card information from customers calling in to make purchases. “Once I realized the potential of what was happening,” he said, “the sky was the limit.”Castro began traveling, dining at the best restaurants, and making luxurious purchases. “When you’re at that age, and you don’t have many friends, and you just want people to like you, that’s when you just think, ‘Well, if money talks and I know that it gets attention, then that’s what I’m going to do,’” he rationalized.
Castro confessed that the most he spent in one night was around $15,000 at a nightclub. However, amid all his excessive and fraudulent spending, he never truly believed he would get caught. Now, he says his naivety was the exact reason for his downfall.“It all went wrong when I got greedy and careless, as these stories so often end,” he said.Despite not having a driver's license, Castro attempted to buy a BMW 7 Series. He said his goal was merely to impress those around him. But when he placed the order for the car, suspicions were raised, which ultimately led to his being caught.“I had a wallet filled with credit cards with different names,” he said. “There was absolutely no way I was talking myself out of this one. That was it. That was the end.”
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By age 21, Castro served prison terms in Britain, Ireland, and Canada—all for fraud. The Canadian prison was his low point. While he was there, he witnessed gruesome stabbings and other horrible incidents that stripped any innocence left in him.“That was the worst place I’ve ever been in my entire life,” he said. “I spent my first week there crying.”However, his scamming still wasn’t over.When he was deported from Toronto to the UK, Castro managed to escape authorities’ watch. Before his flight, he made a call to Canadian immigration pretending to be from the British Embassy. They told him they’d been asked to inform Detective Eastgate at Scotland Yard when Castro left so Eastgate could retrieve him once he landed in the UK.“I just said, ‘Well, that’s OK. I’ll take care of that for you,’” Castro said.As a result, when Castro landed, no one was waiting for him. Still, he had no money to get back to Glasgow. Continuing his streak, he called the airline to retrieve the credit card number used for his flight back to Scotland. With the Canadian Immigration card information on hand, he booked a ticket back to his home city.“I thought that was it,” he said. “I thought, ‘I can’t believe it. I’ve managed to escape again.’”
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Years passed, and Castro continued to get away with his scamming. Finally, he was caught in Edinburgh after purchasing £2000 in gift vouchers using a stolen card.“In the end, I got a two-year sentence, which—considering what I did—was an absolute result,” Castro said.After spending his time in prison, Castro vowed to himself that he would never make the same mistakes or poor decisions again.“I know that I never meant to hurt anyone,” he insisted. “Even if that’s what happened, I didn’t mean it.”Today, Castro is a Scottish fraud prevention consultant who uses his past to help people avoid falling victim to fraud—a full-circle moment for him.“I’ve got a lot to be grateful for,” he said. “I f*cked up, and I’m glad I did that early in my life because I can now get on with the rest of my life.”
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FAQs
Dropping out of school and lying about his age, Castro secured a job at a mobile phone company. He began stealing credit card information from customers calling in to make purchases. “Once I realized the potential of what was happening,” he said, “the sky was the limit.”
What happens if you commit credit card fraud as a minor? ›
Can a Minor Go to Jail for Using Someone Else's Credit Card? A minor might serve time in a juvenile detention center in case of severe theft, though this doesn't happen often. The justice system is slightly more lenient toward minors than adults who commit comparable crimes.
How can credit card fraud be solved? ›
Contact your credit card issuer.
Call the phone number on the back of your credit card immediately to report suspected fraud. Your issuer will freeze your account and issue you another card while they investigate the unauthorized charges. Report any suspicious transactions to your credit card issuer.
How long is the sentence for credit card fraud? ›
In most states, if the thief uses a stolen credit card to buy goods or to get cash over the amount defined as a misdemeanor, the crime becomes a felony. Depending on the situation, thieves may face up to 15 years in prison and up to $25,000 in fines. Again, thieves may also have to pay restitution.
How do most people get caught for credit card fraud? ›
It's difficult to say how often credit card frauds get caught. A savvy clerk might notice someone using a stolen credit card and call it in to the police. Or an investigator might be able to trace a criminal who uses a stolen credit card number online.
What do police do about credit card fraud? ›
Police typically do not investigate a single stolen credit card. If there is concern about a larger ring of criminal behavior, law enforcement may be more likely to spend time investigating. In most cases, the credit institution and the FTC handle credit card fraud investigations.
What happens if you lie about credit card theft? ›
It may take some time for the lie to be discovered, but if it is, you could face criminal charges, and you could end up with jail time. Lots of it, if you lied on more than one application. And if you end up declaring bankruptcy later, the application may come under scrutiny.
How does a credit card fraud take to get solved? ›
Even if it doesn't immediately issue a refund, you're not responsible for disputed amounts during the investigation. A credit card fraud investigation could take up to 90 days, during which time the credit card issuer may contact the merchant that charged your card to get more details about the transaction.
How do you beat a credit card fraud charge? ›
If you notice fraudulent charges on your credit card, here's what you can do to report the charges and protect yourself:
- Notify your credit card issuer immediately. ...
- Change your passwords. ...
- Send your dispute statement, if necessary. ...
- Continue making payments on your credit cards. ...
- Wait for your new credit card to arrive.
While many cases can be resolved quickly, some are more complex and can take up to 90 days. During our investigation, we may work with the merchant through their bank, including at times exchanging written documents.
Federal law only protects cardholders for a limited time — 60 days to be exact — after a fraudulent or incorrect charge has been made.
Is credit card fraud a big deal? ›
Credit card fraud is the most common type of identity theft. With an estimated 1.5 billion credit cards in the U.S. alone, it's no surprise that millions of people fall victim every year. The most effective way to protect yourself from credit card fraud is by taking preventative measures wherever possible.
What happens after credit card fraud investigation? ›
Once notified, the bank has 10 business days to investigate the claim and reach a decision. If they find that fraud did indeed occur, they are obligated to refund the cardholder.
Do fraudsters ever get caught? ›
Internet and telephone scams have grown “exponentially,” overwhelming police and prosecutors who catch and convict relatively few of the perpetrators, said Kathy Stokes, director of fraud prevention at AARP's Fraud Watch Network.
Is credit card fraud ever prosecuted? ›
Regardless of the specific charges, credit card fraud as a crime can easily escalate to a felony, with penalties including years in prison, long-term probation, fines, restitution, and so on.
How much is credit card fraud worth? ›
Losses from fraud involving cards used for payment worldwide reached $34 billion in 2022. They are projected to rise to $43 billion by 2026. Because of recent large, high-profile security breaches at retailers, offline purchases appear to have become more insecure.
Can you go to jail for scamming online as a minor? ›
For a juvenile who has not gotten into trouble before, there are programs, both non-custodial (out of jail) and custodial (in a group home or juvenile detention), in which the juvenile may participate. You could be sentenced up to 5 years (until you're 21). But it's a complicated analysis. You will need an attorney.
Is it illegal for a minor to have a credit card? ›
It's possible to apply for a credit card once you're 18. But according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), if you're under 21, you'll have to have a co-signer who is over 21 or prove that you have enough independent income to make your minimum credit card payments.
What happens if you accidentally commit credit card fraud? ›
Penalties for Accidental Credit Card Fraud
Consumers found to have committed credit card fraud, even if was unintentional, could face a range of penalties, such as: Restitution: The cardholder might be required to pay back the money that was defrauded.
Can I check my child's credit for fraud? ›
As a parent or legal guardian, you have a right to see copies of your teen's credit files. But to gain access to the report, you'll need to provide the credit reporting agencies with proof of your identity and your relationship to your student.
