Former restaurant employee accused in credit card scheme, police say

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. HERE’S CAROLYN RASHAD, WYFF NEWS FOUR AT SIX STARTS RIGHT NOW. NEW DETAILS AND SOME ANSWERS FROM SPECTRUM TONIGHT AS THOUSANDS OF CUSTOMERS STILL REMAIN WITHOUT INTERNET. TWO WEEKS AFTER HALLOWEEN AND HOPING TO MAKE A COMEBACK. WHY BUSINESS OWNERS IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA SAY IT’S IMPORTANT TO KEEP THE TOURISTS COMING IN, AS RECOVERY FROM HALLOWEEN CONTINUES, COOLING ON DOWN TO THE LOW 40S TONIGHT. BUT A MORE PRONOUNCED COOLDOWN COMES OUR WAY NEXT WEEK. I’LL SHOW YOU HOW LOW WE GO AFTER SEVERAL WEEKS AWAY. THOSE FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS ARE TURNING BACK ON TONIGHT. AND WHAT A GAME OF THE WEEK WE HAVE TO WELCOME US BACK TO THE HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SEASON. IT’S DORMAN, IT’S SPARTANBURG. I’LL HAVE A LIVE REPORT COMING YOUR WAY IN JUST A FEW MINUTES. NEW DETAILS TONIGHT. SPECTRUM IS GIVING CUSTOMERS SOME ANSWERS AS THOUSANDS ARE STILL WITHOUT INTERNET. TWO WEEKS AFTER HALLOWEEN. IN A NEW STATEMENT TO WYFF NEWS FOUR THIS AFTERNOON, SPECTRUM SAYS AT THE PEAK OF THE STORM, IT HAD 395,000 CUSTOMERS OFFLINE IN SOUTH CAROLINA. SO THE COMPANY SAYS IT HAS RESTORED SERVICE TO NEARLY 80% OF IMPACTED CUSTOMERS. SPECTRUM SAYS IT EXPECTS TO COMPLETE RESTORATION TO ALL ACCESSIBLE LOCATIONS WITH POWER RESTORED BY OCTOBER 16TH. SO LOOKING AT A BREAKDOWN OF PEOPLE STILL WITHOUT SERVICE IN THE UPSTATE, ACCORDING TO SPECTRUM. GREENVILLE COUNTY HAS ABOUT 38,000 CUSTOMERS. SPARTANBURG COUNTY HAS 20,000. ANDERSON COUNTY HAS 11,000. PICKENS COUNTY HAS 5500. LAURENS COUNTY HAS 3000 CUSTOMERS. CHEROKEE COUNTY AT 2000. OCONEE COUNTY AT 855. ABBEVILLE COUNTY 174. IN GREENWOOD COUNTY, HAS LESS THAN 50. SPECTRUM HAS NOT GIVEN A BREAKDOWN FOR NORTH CAROLINA CUSTOMERS. FOR A LINK TO THE OUTAGE MAP, THOUGH, AND THE FULL STATEMENT FROM SPECTRUM, VISIT WYFF4.COM AND THE WYFF4.COM MOBILE APP. SPARTANBURG COUNTY SHERIFF CHUCK WRIGHT IS REACTING TONIGHT AFTER A VIDEO WENT VIRAL OF HIM TALKING ABOUT THE FEDERAL RESPONSE FOR HALLOWEEN. VIDEO THIS WEEK BY SARAH CARTER A FOX NEWS CONTRIBUTOR WHEN WRIGHT WAS ASKED ABOUT HOW HE THINKS THE WHITE HOUSE HAS HANDLED THE SITUATION, HE SAID, QUOTE, IF YOU ARE GOING TO DO THE THINGS YOU HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT DOING, WE JUST AS SOON YOU STAY OUT OF THE WAY AND LET THE GOOD MEN AND WOMEN AROUND THE MOUNTAIN AREA AND FOOTHILLS TAKE CARE OF THEIR OWN, BECAUSE YOU ARE NOTHING MORE THAN A BOAT. ANCHOR. END QUOTE. WYFF NEWS FOUR SPOKE WITH SHERIFF WRIGHT THIS AFTERNOON ABOUT HIS COMMENTS. LOOK, I’M NOT GOING TO BACK UP AND MAKE NO APOLOGIES FOR ANYTHING. I SAID. I WANT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, WHOEVER’S IN CHARGE, WHETHER IT’S DEMOCRAT, REPUBLICAN OR WHO CARES? I JUST WANT THEM TO BE FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. AND I DON’T THINK THAT’S WHAT’S GOING ON RIGHT NOW TO FIND THE FULL VIDEO OF SHERIFF WRIGHT. POSTED BY SARA CARTER AND THE FULL INTERVIEW WE DID WITH HIM. VISIT WYFF4.COM AND THE WYFF4.COM MOBILE APP. MEANWHILE, NORTH CAROLINA GOVERNOR ROY COOPER IS CALLING OUT FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP. SO TRUMP POSTED ON TRUTH SOCIAL. QUOTE, IT HAS JUST COME OUT THAT DEMOCRATS IN WASHINGTON AND THE DEMOCRAT GOVERNOR’S OFFICE OF NORTH CAROLINA, ROY COOPER, WERE BLOCKING PEOPLE AND MONEY FROM COMING INTO NORTH CAROLINA TO HELP PEOPLE IN DESPERATE NEED. GOVERNOR COOPER POSTED IN PART ON X, QUOTE, THIS IS A FLAT OUT LIE. WE’RE WORKING WITH ALL PARTNERS AROUND THE CLOCK TO GET HELP TO PEOPLE. THE FULL POST CAN BE FOUND ON WYFF4.COM. LET’S GO AHEAD AND TURN NOW TO OUR WEATHER. EVERYONE WANTS TO KNOW HOW THE WEEKEND FORECAST WILL SHAKE OUT, BUT BEFORE WE TELL YOU WE WANT TO GIVE YOU THIS LIVE LOOK FROM OUR LAKE HARTWELL SKY CAM. CAROL MIGHT BE A LITTLE TOO COLD TO JUMP IN THE WATER. MAYBE, BUT IT’S A BEAUTIFUL SIGHT, ISN’T IT, CHIEF METEOROLOGIST CHRIS JUSTICE JOINS US AND, CHRIS, IT’S REALLY STARTING TO FEEL LIKE FALL. YOU KNOW, BEEN ON THE COOL SIDE THIS MORNING. FIRST TIME I KIND OF FELT THAT JUST REAL CHILL ACROSS THE AREA. THIS WEEKEND WILL BE THE SAME IN THE MORNINGS, BUT THE AFTERNOONS WILL BE WARM. LET ME SHOW YOU WHAT’S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW. WE’VE GOT MOSTLY SUNNY SKIES, COMPLETELY CLEAR SKIES ACROSS THE AREA. REALLY A NICE NIGHT TAKING SHAPE. IF YOU’RE GOING OUT TO DINNER OR ANY KIND OF BALL GAMES, KNOW THAT WHEN YOU WALK IN, IT’S GOING TO FEEL A LOT DIFFERENT THAN WHEN YOU WALK OUT, AS TEMPERATURES WILL PLUMMET VERY QUICKLY ONCE THE SUN GOES DOWN TO SOME CHILLY READINGS, YOU’LL WANT A JACKET OR A HOODIE AT THESE GAMES. 71 IN ASHEVILLE, 70 RIGHT NOW IN SPARTANBURG, WE’VE GOT CLEAR SKIES AS FAR AS THE EYE CAN SEE. JUST REALLY, REALLY NICE OUT ACROSS THE AREA. THE NEXT 12 HOURS SHOW TEMPERATURES DROPPING DOWN TO THE UPPER 40S BEFORE, YOU KNOW IT COMING UP, I’LL MAP OUT EVEN COLDER WEATHER COMING OUR WAY NEXT WEEK. THANK YOU CHRIS. CONTINUING COVERAGE OF THE AFTERMATH OF HELENE TONIGHT. SPARTANBURG DISTRICT FOUR SCHOOLS HAD TO STAY CLOSED FOR TWO WEEKS AFTER THE STORM. AND NOW MANY STUDENTS WILL BE HEADING BACK TO CLASS ON MONDAY. EARLIER THIS WEEK ON TUESDAY, WOODRUFF HIGH SCHOOL PERSONNEL SAY THEY DISCOVERED A SUBSTANCE ON SEVERAL DESKS IN A CLASSROOM, POSSIBLY MILDEW OR MOLD, FOR SAFETY REASONS, THE DISTRICT CLOSED ALL SCHOOLS TO PERFORM SOME AIR QUALITY TESTS. A SPECIALIZED CLEANING COMPANY CLEANED EACH SCHOOL THIS WEEK, AND THAT MEANT PARENTS HAD TO FIND OTHER PLACES FOR THEIR CHILDREN TO SPEND THEIR TIME. I’M HAPPY THAT THEY’RE PART OF A DISTRICT THAT PRIORITIZES THEIR SAFETY AND THEY NEED A HEALTHY LEARNING ENVIRONMENT TO THRIVE IN. WOODRUFF PRIMARY, ELEMENTARY AND HIGH SCHOOLS WILL RETURN TO CLASS MONDAY, WHILE AN UPDATE WILL BE SENT OUT ON SUNDAY REGARDING WOODRUFF MIDDLE AND THE LEARNING CENTER. THOSE TWO SCHOOLS HAD A, QUOTE, ELEVATED SPORE COUNT IN THE AIR QUALITY TESTS AS RESTORATION AND CLEANUP EFFORTS ARE STILL ONGOING ACROSS WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA. AFTER HELENE, SOME LOCAL BUSINESS OWNERS SAY THEY’RE READY FOR TOURISM TO MAKE A COMEBACK. METEOROLOGIST GRIFFIN HARDY REPORTS FROM HENDERSON COUNTY. MANY LOCAL BUSINESSES ACROSS WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA WERE HEAVILY IMPACTED BY HURRICANE HELENE JUST BEFORE WHAT NORMALLY IS THE PEAK OF TOURISM SEASON, BUT ONE LOCAL VINEYARD OWNER HERE IN HENDERSON COUNTY IS ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO STILL COME. I WAS TELLING OUR TEAM, IT’S KIND OF LIKE I WAS IN A DREAM SEQUENCE FOR THE PAST TWO WEEKS, AND NOW I’M WAKING UP. TIMOTHY PARKS OF MARKED TREE VINEYARDS SAYS OCTOBER IS NORMALLY THEIR BUSIEST MONTH OF THE YEAR FOR TOURISTS, AND THAT IT’S IMPORTANT FOR THOSE THAT CAN TO GET BACK TO A SMALL SENSE OF NORMALCY. PLEASE COME AND SUPPORT SOME OF THE SMALL BUSINESSES SO THAT WAY WE CAN START TO STABILIZE OUR COMMUNITY. SO THAT OTHER COMMUNITIES CAN BE HELPED, THAT ARE IN MORE DIRE NEED. DANIELLE MCCALL OF STEPS, HILLCREST, ORCHARD SAYS HER ORCHARD IS MOSTLY OKAY AFTER THE STORM, BUT REMAINS INACCESSIBLE BY ROAD. TIMOTHY HAS BEEN HELPING HER OUT BY LETTING HER SELL PRODUCT AT HIS VINEYARD. SHE ALSO SAYS THE EASIEST WAY TO HELP IS BY STILL ENCOURAGING TOURISM TO THOSE WANTING TO MAKE A TRIP SAFELY. WHEN POSSIBLE, TO THE MOUNTAINS. THIS FALL. FOR US, IT MAY MEAN MAYBE WE’RE OPEN LATER IN THE SEASON THIS YEAR THAN WE NORMALLY WOULD BE. AND THAT’S THE OTHER THING I WOULD SAY. IF YOU CAN’T COME, IF YOU CAN COME THIS WEEKEND, COME ON. IF YOU CAN’T COME LATER, THIS MONTH, COME IN NOVEMBER, EVEN IF YOU WOULDN’T NORMALLY DO THAT, COME IN DECEMBER. THERE’S LOTS OF THINGS TO ENJOY IN HENDERSON COUNTY FOR THE REST OF 2024. IT’S STILL GORGEOUS HERE. THERE ARE PLACES OPEN. PLEASE COME SUPPORT. SO THAT WE CAN HELP SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY. REPORTING IN HENDERSON COUNTY. METEOROLOGIST GRIFFIN HARDY WYFF NEWS FOUR. IN BUNCOMBE COUNTY. OFFICIALS WITH THE BILTMORE ESTATE IN ASHEVILLE TELL US THEY AREN’T YET SURE WHEN THE PROPERTY WILL BE ABLE TO WELCOME GUESTS AGAIN. WE ARE TOLD THERE WAS SIGNIFICANT FLOODING AND DAMAGE TO THE ENTRANCE OF THE ESTATE, WHICH IS IN BILTMORE VILLAGE, AND TO THE FARM AND OTHER LOW LYING AREAS. AND RIGHT NOW, CREWS ARE CLEARING TREES AND MAKING SURE THE ROADS ON THE ESTATE ARE SAFE. BUT WE ARE TOLD THE BILTMORE HOUSE, THE CONSERVATORY, WINERY, GARDENS AND THE HOTELS ON THE ESTATE HAD MINIMAL OR NO DAMAGE. THEY HOPE TO BE ABLE TO WELCOME VISITORS FOR THE CHRISTMAS SEASON. WE’RE STILL ASSESSING DAMAGES. WE LOOK FORWARD TO OPENING SAFELY AND RESPONSIBLY SO WHEN IT’S RIGHT FOR OUR COMMUNITY, WE REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO WELCOMING ALL OF OUR GUESTS BACK TO BILTMORE. WE ARE TOLD PEOPLE CAN REQUEST REFUNDS IF THEY PURCHASE TICKETS THROUGH NOVEMBER 1ST, BUT OFFICIALS SAY THOSE REFUNDS WILL TAKE SOME TIME BECAUSE THE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM ON THE ESTATE WAS IMPACTED BY THE STORM. THEY ARE ASKING PEOPLE TO BE PATIENT. IT’S BEEN THREE WEEKS SINCE OUR LAST FULL SLATE OF HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL, AND TONIGHT WE FINALLY RETURN TO A SENSE OF NORMALCY. IT’S HERE, CAROL AND WE’RE GETTING BACK TO BUSINESS IN A BIG WAY. THE CITY RIVALRY BETWEEN THE SPARTANBURG VIKINGS AND DORMAN CAVALIERS. OUR CHASE JUSTICE IS IN THE BURG. HE IS LIVE AHEAD OF THE BIG GAME CHASE. WHAT’S GOING ON? HEY. YEAH. HEY, RASHAD AND CAROL. WHAT A COUPLE OF WEEKS IT HAS BEEN. CERTAINLY NOT THE NORM TO BE SEPARATED FROM YOUR TEAM FOR SEVERAL WEEKS. SMACK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SEASON. BUT TONIGHT, WE’RE FINALLY GETTING BACK TO OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED PROGRAMING. IT’S CITY RIVALRY WEEK WITH DORMAN HOSTING SPARTANBURG, A CLASH BETWEEN TWO OF THE MOST TALENTED PROGRAMS THAT THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA HAS TO OFFER. NOW ON SPARTANBURG SIDE, THEY ENTER TONIGHT’S WEEK SEVEN MATCHUP WITH A RECORD OF THREE AND ONE ON A FAIRLY MULTIPLE WHEN IT COMES TO THE OFFENSIVE SIDE OF THE BALL, FIVE RECEIVERS HAVE RECORDED A TOUCHDOWN CATCH THROUGHOUT JUST FOUR GAMES, WHILE DORMAN WILL LOOK TO USE THEIR HOME FIELD TO THEIR ADVANTAGE. COMING OFF A SURPRISING LOSS TO BYRNES, CAVS HEAD COACH JAKE MORRIS KNOWS THE TIME TO START FINDING WAYS TO WIN IS NOW. VERY WELL COACHED. SPARTANBURG IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE WELL COACHED. DEFENSE IS REALLY FAST, REALLY AGGRESSIVE. OFFENSE DOES A GREAT JOB OF GETTING THE BALL OUT IN SPACE TO THEIR PLAYMAKERS. RUNNING BACK IS A GOOD PLAYER. THEIR LINEBACKERS ARE REALLY GOOD. OBVIOUSLY THEY GOT ATHLETES AND YOU KNOW THEY CAN SCORE ON ANY PLAY, GOT TIGHT ENDS, GOT RUNNING BACKS, GOT RECEIVERS, RUNNING BACK AND A QUARTERBACK THAT CAN RUN. AND SO THEY’RE GOING TO FORCE YOU TO BE VERY PHYSICAL ON OFFENSE. BUT THEN YOU’VE GOT TO BE VERY GAP SOUND AND HAVE GREAT EYE DISCIPLINE ON DEFENSE. NOW THIS CITY RIVALRY HAS BEEN FAIRLY ONE SIDED AS OF LATE. SPARTANBURG WINNERS OF THREE STRAIGHT AGAINST THE CAVS. BUT COMING UP IN JUST A FEW MINUTES WE’LL HEAR FROM DORMAN, HEAD COACH JAKE MORRIS AS HE LOOKS TO GET HIS FIRST WIN IN THE CITY RIVALRY SERIES SINCE TAKING OVER AS THE HEAD MAN OF THE DORMAN CAVALIERS, UNTIL THEN, REPORTING LI

Former Greenwood, South Carolina restaurant employee accused in credit card scheme, police say

Updated: 9:47 PM EDT Oct 11, 2024

UPDATE: The Greenwood Police Department said the fraud case at Applebee’s, 1617 Bypass 25 NE in Greenwood, South Carolina, is now being investigated as an external scheme.(Video above: WYFF News 4 Evening Headlines) Police allege chargeback fraud was committed by a now-terminated employee and several co-conspirators unaffiliated with the business.According to officers, no legitimate customer credit/debit cards are believed to be involved.Officials ask anyone with information regarding this case to contact Detective Ramos at (864) 942-8408.Original Story:Police in Greenwood, South Carolina, have a message for anyone who had a meal at one of the city’s restaurants: check your bank statements. Officials with the Greenwood Police Department said detectives are working a fraud case that took place at Applebee’s at 1617 Bypass 25 NE. They said a waitress was falsifying tips on financial transaction cards. They are asking Applebee’s customers to check their bank accounts if they visited the restaurant on:May 22, from 6:10 p.m. to 6:59 p.m. May 23, from 5:30 p.m. to 6:40 p.m.May 27, from 5:47 p.m. to 6:39 p.m.May 27, from 6:28 p.m. to 6:51 p.m.May 28, from 6:02 p.m. to 6:27 p.m.Anyone with irregularities in their bank statements is asked to call 864-942-8408.

UPDATE: The Greenwood Police Department said the fraud case at Applebee’s, 1617 Bypass 25 NE in Greenwood, South Carolina, is now being investigated as an external scheme.

(Video above: WYFF News 4 Evening Headlines)

Police allege chargeback fraud was committed by a now-terminated employee and several co-conspirators unaffiliated with the business.

According to officers, no legitimate customer credit/debit cards are believed to be involved.

Officials ask anyone with information regarding this case to contact Detective Ramos at (864) 942-8408.

Original Story:

Police in Greenwood, South Carolina, have a message for anyone who had a meal at one of the city’s restaurants: check your bank statements.

Officials with the Greenwood Police Department said detectives are working a fraud case that took place at Applebee’s at 1617 Bypass 25 NE.

They said a waitress was falsifying tips on financial transaction cards.

They are asking Applebee’s customers to check their bank accounts if they visited the restaurant on:

May 22, from 6:10 p.m. to 6:59 p.m.

May 23, from 5:30 p.m. to 6:40 p.m.

May 27, from 5:47 p.m. to 6:39 p.m.

May 27, from 6:28 p.m. to 6:51 p.m.

May 28, from 6:02 p.m. to 6:27 p.m.

Anyone with irregularities in their bank statements is asked to call 864-942-8408.