Fraud charges follow spending spree

POLICE have charged a 39year-old Gold Coast woman with 19 counts of fraud after she allegedly used a stolen debit card to make purchases totalling nearly $1500.

It will be alleged the woman received the Visa card and used it at several shops across the northern Gold Coast region on August 3.

Police say the stolen card belonged to a woman from Ormeau, who was informed by her bank that it had been fraudulently used.

Goods were bought at 19 different locations at Ormeau, Pimpama and Beenleigh.

Norfolk Village Police Beat officers retraced the steps of a suspect, collecting CCTV footage and receipts along the way.

CCTV footage revealed the same woman at each transaction.

Attempts to identify her included use of social media.

Following public assistance, officers questioned a Pimpama woman and charged her with one count of receiving stolen goods and 19 counts of fraud.

She will appear in Beenleigh Magistrates Court on September 6.