Fraud Suspect Had Mobile Operation

A Palm Springs man arrested this week in connection with a suspected credit-card fraud had a mini fraud factory in his car, authorities alleged.

Joseph B. Riley, 61, was arrested in Thousand Oaks on Tuesday on suspicion of using stolen credit card accounts and counterfeit checks to make purchases from mail-order companies throughout the United States, according to the county Sheriff’s Department.

When deputies searched Riley’s car, they found a credit-card encoding machine, special plastic with state logos used to seal driver’s licenses, a check printer, a laptop computer, hundreds of sheets of blank check and credit card stock, and the names and credit card information for more than 60 county residents, deputies said.

Riley used at least six rented post office boxes in Thousand Oaks, Simi Valley and Westlake to receive the mail-order goods, deputies said. He was being held in Ventura County Jail in lieu of $130,000 bail.