Kardashian Episode Leads to Birthday Surprise Gone Awry

Source: Santa Barbara Police Department

On Saturday, May 18, 2019, a resident of Los Angeles, who was a victim of credit card fraud, alerted the Santa Barbara Police Department to her credit being fraudulently used to purchase several tours and attractions in the City.

The victim was originally alerted to the sham because she proactively engaged in text alerts to notify her when there was activity on her account. Fraud-text alerts displayed purchases of a future wine-tasting tour for two, an immersive escape-themed entertainment experience and prior round of pizza delivery to a Lancaster, CA home. The physical credit card remained in the victim’s possession.

The suspects, when booking the tour, entered what appeared to be their true names. A check of the names indicated the suspects lived in Lancaster.

Two Santa Barbara Police Patrol Officers made contact with the wine tour operator and collaborated with him to glean additional information about the purchase and ascertain when the tour would start.

When the two subjects arrived for the festivities they were taken into custody by Police without incident.

The main culprit, now identified as Kyrie Dequan Austin, age 25, a resident of Lancaster, gave several evasive versions as to how the fraudulent purchases took place.

His girlfriend, who was celebrating her birthday that day, said the pair had embarked on a birthday surprise road trip. She had mentioned to her boyfriend earlier that she desired to take a trip to Santa Barbara and wine taste after watching an episode of the “Kardashian’s. The girlfriend who did not face charges, stated she was unaware that Austin had used a fraudulent credit card.

Austin was booked into Santa Barbara County Jail on felony charges related to the theft of credit card information.

Consequently, Austin had a court date on Monday in Santa Clarita for a similar arrest in February of this year.