Police Seek Two Women in Alleged Bank Fraud

Manhattan Beach Police are looking for two women who are allegedly involved in a couple of local bank fraud incidents that occurred in March.

The suspects were captured on surveillance video at a Wells Fargo Bank branch along North Sepulveda on March 2 and a Wachovia Bank branch in Westchester on March 6.

The first suspect is alleged to have printed fraudulent checks using the stolen identity of a Bakersfield resident. The suspect also reportedly used the victim's name and banking information to create log-in access for an online Wells Fargo account.

On March 2, the suspect allegedly wrote a phony $3,800 check against the Bakersfield resident's account and deposited it into a second Wells Fargo account. Police said the suspect later withdrew the $3,800 from the second account at the Sepulveda branch, though it was not specified to whom the second account belonged.

On March 6, a second suspect deposited a bogus $8,700 check drawn on the same victim's account into a Wachovia account at a nearby Westchester branch. Police said there have been many other fraudulent transactions using the Wachovia account, which was originally opened in Atlanta.

Anyone with information about the suspects or knowledge of similar incidents is asked to call Manhattan Beach Police Det. Jeanette Meers at 310-802-5186.