Two Mexican citizens were arrested on Monday, after South Texas police found that the duo had used information gained during Target's security breach to buy tens of thousands of dollars worth of stuff.
According to a report by the Associated Press, a federal agent later said there wasn't a link between the Target breach investigation and the arrest.
Monterrey, Mexico residents Mary Carmen Garcia, 27 and Daniel Guardiola Dominguez, 28, reportedly used credit card information that belonged to several South Texas citizens. The two allegedly used the numbers to buy merchandise from such stores as Walmart, Toys R Us and Best Buy.
"They're obviously selling the data sets by region," McAllen Police Chief Victor Rodriguez told the Associated Press.
But the federal official, whose identity has been withheld, said there were no ties between the Target breach and the McAllen arrests - a probe into several fraudulent purchases made at a number of stores. The Associated Press couldn't verify whether the arrests were linked to the breach by Tuesday.
Guardiola and Garcia are currently being held on state fraud charges, AP reported.
McAllen police linked up with the Secret Service to inspect "miles of video" from business owners in the McAllen area earlier this year, in hopes of finding information indicating who was committing fraud. They found two people and a car with Mexican plates in alleged connection with the crimes, AP reported.
Authorities were informed on Sunday that two people were attempting to get back into the United States at the Anzalduas International Bridge, and they were holding 96 phony cards.
Rodriguez said Garcia and Guardiola were believed to be involved in the manufacturing of the fake cards and using them at a handful of stores, adding that the two would probably be charged with federal crimes.
