Escalon Auto Shop Employees Skim Customer Credit Cards, Buy Spam

ESCALON (CBS13) - Detectives say two suspects stole credit card information and then used it to buy some unusual things.

Investigators say two men scammed their auto repair customers by stealing their credit card information and using it to buy Spam. That's right, the food Spam.

Detectives say Phakdey Liv and Phalla Liv, who work at All City Automotive, stole their customers' credit card information and traveled to several big box retailers around the area to buy iPads and 123 cans of spam.

Jim Zaslove says he's one of the victims. He claims the two stole his information not long after bringing his car in for a smog check.

"I mean, its ridiculous, they ripped me off," said Zaslove.

Zaslove says a few weeks later someone charged about $200 at a San Leandro Target store.

"They stole from me and then the guy wants to smile and take my business and love everything I'm doing, its just wrong," said Zaslove.

Investigators say Zaslove is just one of at least 33 victims who used All City Automotive and had their credit card information stolen in 2011.

According to court documents, the two suspects skimmed their customers' information, and copied the account numbers onto counterfeit credit cards.

CBS13 went by the shop, but it wasn't open.

Zaslove says the shop is still operating; something he finds hard to understand.

"The biggest problem I have is they're still open," said Zaslove. "Why? Why, if you are doing that to other people, why are you still open?"

As for stealing people's personal information for the purpose of buying Spam, even detectives say that's a new one to them.

Detectives have Phakdey, but they are still looking for Phalla.

The district attorney's office wants to warn businesses to watch out for people who buy items in bulk quantities.