15 more victims of online credit fraud step forward

Fifteen more victims have come forward since authorities notified the public about their investigation of a Newport Beach man accused of using his web-related job to store credit card numbers of donors to the Catalina Conservancy Divers website, officials said Monday.

Trevor Hammonds, 46, is in custody on $250,000 bail and faces 19 felony charges stemming from accusations he stole credit card numbers from more than 800 people who had donated to the Catalina Conservancy Divers website between 2005 and 2006. He is suspected of defrauding at least 25 people of a total of about $75,000, detectives said.

Hammonds pleaded not guilty to felonies ranging from grand theft, burglary, and accessing and using others’ credit card information in February. Those charges are related only to the first three victims identified. District Attorney officials said more cases could mount as detectives continue to investigate.

Police said Hammonds created the website for a group that cleans Avalon Harbor at Catalina Island. He recorded credit card numbers when donations were made online, police said. Hammonds’ pre-trial hearing is scheduled for April 23 in Santa Ana court.

— Joseph Serna