GTV NEWS: PRESTON PURNELL ARRESTED & CHARGED... CREDIT CARD SCAM

Purnell and some accomplices, investigators alleged in court documents, would obtain information about cardholders and then call the company, requesting that cards be shipped to new addresses. 
Investigators allege that Purnell had credit cards shipped to various addresses across West Michigan and then used them to buy electronics, gift cards and other merchandise. 

A West Michigan man faces federal charges after being accused of stealing credit cards. 
Investigators say Preston Purnell called American Express pretending to be various customers, and then had their addresses changed and new cards shipped to him. 
Between December 2009 and June 2010, when American Express allowed customers to update their accounts by telephone or Internet, federal investigators said. They say Purnell took advantage of that.

He now faces several charges, including mail fraud and aggravated identity theft. A woman at one of the addresses Purnell used told 24 Hour News 8 that she was angry and she said she didn't know Purnell was using her address in the alleged fraud. Purnell was already in the Ottawa County Jail for driving on a suspended license when the federal charges came down. An American Express spokesperson told 24 Hour News 8 that she had never heard of this happening before and reassures cardholders they have sophisticated fraud monitoring systems in place. The spokesperson also said that cardholders aren't responsible for any fraudulent charges.