A credit card scheme that officials believe originated out of Africa has helped benefit a domestic violence shelter in Trumbull County.
Officials with the Trumbull County Sheriff's Office on Tuesday morning donated hundreds of dollars worth of new clothes and cell phones to Someplace Safe.
The items were recovered during an investigation into a stolen credit card.
Many of the items such as the shorts, shirts and tennis shoes, are for men, which are items that officials at Someplace Safe said are desperately needed.
"There is something about putting on something new," said Cheryl Tarantino, executive director of Someplace Safe.
She noted the clothes can help many male teenagers that come to the shelter with a parent.
In November, police received a call from a man in Missouri that said his credit card information was stolen.
It turns out his card was used by a man in Africa, who met two local women online, and sent them gifts purchased with the stolen credit card.
The gifts were confiscated by deputies. The credit card company credited the man's account, and advised the sheriff to donate the items to a charity.
"Someplace Safe came up, and we said let's try to help them a little bit with some of the stuff we are doing, so I am just happy to give it to them," said Sheriff Tom Altiere.
Detective said the suspects live in Ghana, Africa, and they doubt they will be able to make an arrest.
