Costco workers noticed something strange about two New York shoppers at self-checkout. Police say it led to 28 credit cards

Two New York residents were arrested at a Connecticut Costco after employees uncovered what police believe was part of a multi-store credit card fraud spree. When officers responded to the Costco on Tamarack Avenue in South Windsor, they reportedly found 28 credit cards, each bearing a different name.

As it stands, Bronx resident Brittany Howard, 35, and Brooklyn resident Kasheem Williams, 34, are being held on $250,000 bond. They are accused of carrying out a coordinated credit card fraud scheme targeting multiple Costco locations across the region.

The scheme

According to WFSB 3, Howard and Williams allegedly began by stealing people’s identities before using their payment cards in what police described as a coordinated, multi-store operation.

The South Windsor Police Department believes the pair moved quickly between Costco Wholesale locations, allowing them to make purchases before regional loss prevention teams could share information about the suspected fraud. One of their key tactics was reportedly avoiding traditional cashier lanes in favor of self-checkout kiosks, where they hoped to minimize face-to-face interactions and reduce the likelihood of identity verification.

Despite those precautions, Costco’s internal reporting system eventually caught up with them.

When Howard and Williams arrived at the Costco on Tamarack Avenue in South Windsor, employees contacted police after recognizing them as suspects in a similar incident that had allegedly taken place earlier at the Costco in Enfield.

Officers immediately launched an investigation and searched the suspects’ vehicle. Inside, they discovered 28 credit cards, each registered to a different individual.

Police allege the pair would move through self-checkout using the stolen cards one after another until they found one that had not yet been blocked by its rightful owner. If one card was declined, they simply tried another, repeating the process until a transaction was approved.

Investigators also found the vehicle filled with merchandise that had allegedly been purchased during an earlier stop at another Costco. As a result, the case extends beyond alleged identity theft.

Howard and Williams are now facing 28 counts of payment card theft, along with charges of second-degree larceny, third-degree identity theft, and conspiracy to commit third-degree identity theft.

Police also discovered that the pair were already wanted elsewhere. Howard and Williams reportedly have an outstanding warrant in Hudson County, New Jersey, in connection with alleged credit card theft. They are also wanted in Suffolk County, New York, on charges including strangulation, burglary, and assault.

How to protect yourself from credit card theft

Fortunately, there are several ways consumers can reduce the damage if their card information is stolen.

One important distinction is that credit cards generally offer stronger fraud protections than debit cards. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), a consumer’s liability for unauthorized credit card charges is generally limited to $50. Debit card protections, however, depend largely on how quickly the loss is reported. As a general rule, the longer you wait, the greater your potential financial liability.

If your card is ever lost or stolen, the most important step is to freeze or lock it immediately through your banking app or by contacting your bank. From there, report the card as lost or stolen and begin the process of obtaining a replacement as soon as possible.