Franklin County Sheriff Probes $340K Credit Card Fraud Scheme Involving Three Central Ohio Residents

A $340,000 alleged credit card fraud investigation is unfolding in the county that includes much of Dublin. The Franklin County Sheriff's Office Financial Crime Investigators Unit is investigating three central Ohio residents—Kelvin Nimako, Benjamin Derby, and Alize Frazier—accused of racking up more than $340,000 in fraudulent credit card charges, according to a podcast report.

Investigators allege the scheme involved redirecting mail to fake addresses and racking up charges at major retailers, a method that can put financial information in the hands of fraudsters while cardholders and merchants may not spot the damage until later. Dublin is located primarily in Franklin County, with portions extending into Delaware and Union counties. The Sheriff's Office has not publicly disclosed the timeline of the fraudulent activity, whether Dublin businesses or consumers were direct victims, or what charges the suspects may face.

Why the Alleged Fraud Matters to Dublin

Financial crimes of this scale often involve networks of compromised accounts, stolen card information, or business-targeting tactics that can affect merchants and consumers across central Ohio. The suspects' alleged pattern of charging at major retailers could have touched Dublin-area establishments or Dublin residents shopping in Franklin County.

Federal and state officials in Ohio announced a new partnership in June 2026 to enhance detection and prosecution of fraud, highlighting coordinated charges against nine defendants accused of participating in over $42 million in fraudulent schemes. In a separate action that month, federal and state officials accused 14 individuals in Ohio of Medicaid fraud, COVID-19 relief fraud, and romance scam schemes totaling tens of millions of dollars. A previous Franklin County fraud investigation in December 2020 involved nine suspects arrested in Hilliard, with investigators estimating the scheme affected thousands of victims and roughly a half-million dollars.

Assessing Local Exposure

Because the Sheriff's Office has not disclosed which businesses or consumers were victimized or provided a public timeline, Dublin residents and merchants cannot yet check their own records to determine whether they were directly affected by the mail-redirection scheme.

Steps Residents and Businesses Can Take Now

Consumers should review credit card statements at least monthly, ideally every three to four days, and set up real-time text or email notifications for all transactions to detect fraud immediately, according to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.

If fraud is detected, consumers should immediately call the issuer's number on the back of the card to report it and request a card block and replacement, then file a police report and report identity theft to the Federal Trade Commission. Consumers can contact Experian, Equifax, or TransUnion to place a free one-year fraud alert or a credit freeze to prevent criminals from opening new accounts in their name.

Businesses should establish transaction visibility through apps and alerts, build audit programs to review specific transaction types, cancel department cards when employees leave, and report suspicious activity immediately, according to Bank of America guidance.

What to Watch for Next

As the investigation proceeds, Dublin residents should watch for whether the Franklin County Sheriff's Office will issue consumer alerts or protective guidance specific to this case. Maria Durant serves as Director of Media Relations/Public Affairs for the Franklin County Sheriff's Office and can be reached at [email protected] or 614-525-2550.