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By VAUGHN PROCTOR Stiff writer Three Lompoc merchants who were bilked in a fake traveler's check scheme may have a lot of company throughout the west coast. Lompoc Police Lt Mel Ramos said today The full extent of the fraud is only now beginning to emerge following the arrest in Arroyo Grande of a woman believed responsible for passing fake traveler’s checks in California and possibly other west coast states The woman gave her name as Betty Jean Brown. 48. a transient Police were checking out the name and also were investigating a companion. Gerald Wayne Bames. 47. who was taken into custody with the woman in a car reportedly stolen in Seattle. Wash The couple also had a large sum of money, described by one source as in the neighborhood of $1,500 to 12.000 and about 70 traveler s checks which proved to have the same serial number as the three passed in Lompoc Ramos said he learned of the connection between the woman under arrest in Arroyo Grande and the traveler's checks passed in Lompoc when he talked with a police source in Santa Barbara and learned thatthe serial number on the checks on her person matched that of checks passed at three liquor stores in LompocRamos said a woman identifying herself as Betty Jean Brown bought a legitimate $100 American Express traveler's check at the Lancaster branch of the United California Bank on Sept 26. The facts are not entirely clear at this point, but Ramos said the check was apparently duplicated by some means The three checks passed in Lompoc were excellent duplicates of the original. Ramos saidRamos said only three of the fake checks passed in Lompoc have been turned over to his department for investigation, but that he fears several more are still being held by merchants.In defense of those who cashed the checks. Ramos said, the reproductions were good — if you saw a fake alongside an authentic check you'd see the difference immediately, but otherwise probably not.Ramos said the woman wore a different costume each time she entered a liquor store for a purchase At the time of her arrest, police confiscated a number of different colored wigs and 18 to 20 quart bottlesMedical expansion plannedof expensive liquor and a large quantity of six-packs of beer Ramos said merchants should insist on identification before cashing traveler's checks and if possible call the toll free number that most traveler's check companies make available for the security of merchantsComing eventsThe Knights of Columbus and their ladies will sponsor a Dime a Dip dinner on Friday evening. October 18 at 6 p m at the KC Hall. 523 East Chestnut Everyone invitedLompoc Unit of the American Contract Bridge Club will hold its annual Valley of the Flowers Sectional duplicate bridge tournament here at the Veterans Memorial Building on October 18. 19 and 20 Events will include master pairs, open pairs and Swiss teams Two games daily 1 p m and 8 p.m. on October 18 and 19 and 11 30am and5 30pm on October 20.Plans indicating expansion of county medical facilities in Santa Maria area - along with major medical projects in the Santa Barbara County General Hospital area — were detailed somewhat before the Board of Supervisors TuesdayThe Drama Dept at Lompoc Senior High School will present the comedy Up the Down Staircase1' October 23 . 24 . 25 and 26 at 8 p m in the Lompoc High School Little Theater Tickets are not on sale in the high school activities office All tickets are $1 50 For further information call Mr Larry Bowen at 735-1520
Newspaper Details
Lompoc Record
Lompoc, California, US
Thu, Oct 17, 1974
Page 2
Full Page
Clipped by
Elizabeth W.
WA, USA 29 Mar 2017
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Lompoc Record
