Mount Prospect police arrest Chicago man accused of gift card scam

A man caught on video last February using a fraudulent Visa gift card at a Mount Prospect Wal-Mart has been charged with a continuing financial crimes enterprise, money laundering and identity theft, authorities said.

Ross Aynami, 32, of Chicago was ordered held on $60,000 bail Thursday.

Prosecutors say he was captured on video at other Wal-Mart stores using gift cards he fraudulently obtained through information he acquired from neighbors. According to Cook County Assistant State's Attorney Maureen McGee, Aynami used the information to obtain gift cards, which he then sold to a Chicago currency exchange in exchange for money orders payable to him and his wife.

Aynami used the stolen information to make 35 transactions totaling about $13,000, McGee said. At his home, Mount Prospect police recovered hundreds of gift cards whose balances totaled $9,200, McGee said. Police also recovered a credit card reader, blank credit cards and phony driver's licenses, she said.

Aynami next appears in court on Dec. 9.