BOISE, Idaho (CBS2) — Earlier this week, Boise Police’s Organized Retail Crime Unit began investigating a report involving a return fraud scheme targeting high-end luxury goods.
The retailer reported that the fraud had been occurring for close to a year. An investigation showed that the suspect, 42-year-old Daniela Serpa of Garden City, purchased several items online, many valued at thousands of dollars each, and returned counterfeit or lower-cost substitute items in their place.
Two returns were made in person at a local retailer, while the others were returned by mail.
As part of the investigation, the Boise Police Department obtained a search warrant for Serpa’s residence and recovered some of the stolen merchandise. The retailer reported total losses to be approximately $100,000.
Serpa was arrested without incident and booked into the Ada County Jail on Oct. 21, 2026, on one…
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This remains the most prevalent form of financial crime globally. It targets the direct access points to your money: your cards and your bank accounts.
- Skimming: Criminals use small devices called “skimmers” placed over ATM or point-of-sale card slots to capture the data from your card’s magnetic strip.
- Card-Not-Present (CNP) Fraud: This occurs during online shopping where a physical card isn’t required. Thieves use stolen card numbers, expiry dates, and CVV codes to make unauthorized purchases.
- Account Takeover (ATO): A hacker gains access to your online banking credentials (often through malware or phishing) and changes the contact details or passwords, locking you out while they drain your funds.