Eureka Police are searching for a 47-year-old Bellville, Ill., man who allegedly used a 41-year-old Pacific woman’s PayPal account and identity to purchase $2,842.84 worth of items from Walmart, 131 Eureka Towne Center Drive, in Eureka, police reported.
The woman contacted police on Jan. 16 after she was unable to use her Walmart app because someone else was using her phone number to access the account. She then discovered money was taken from her bank account to cover two PayPal transactions at Walmart, the report said.
The PayPal transactions occurred on Jan. 14 and were paid to Walmart. The first transaction was for $1,423.84 to purchase a laptop and moving box, and the second transaction was for $1,419 for a laptop, according to the report.
A man drove a gray 2024 Ford Fusion to Walmart on Jan. 14, and he allegedly provided the woman’s information to complete the orders. Eureka Police were able to identify the vehicle and man by using the Flock license-plate reading camera system, the report said.
The woman told police the $1,419 charge was refunded, but she needed a police report to dispute the $1,423.84, according to the report.
As of Jan. 27, the man who allegedly used the woman’s information to purchase the items had not been located or arrested, Lt. Brett Grittini said. He asks anyone with information about the man to call the Eureka Police at 636-938-6600.