A Lasell University student is now facing charges after scamming more than $500,000 while on the clock. Ariel Foster, 19, worked at a mall jewelry store in Burlington, Massachusetts.
19-year-old college student hit the jackpot of robberies… she is accused of stealing over $500,000 from her job at jewelry store to buy a Tesla, Hawaii vacation, and more 👀💰 pic.twitter.com/hEfQhEBBK7
— Daily Loud (@DailyLoud) March 10, 2023
According to WCVB, the Lasell student allegedly spent thousands of dollars on a Tesla, Louis Vuitton items and a luxurious trip to Hawaii. In addition, authorities were notified on Feb. 22 to check in at the Burlington Mall jewelry store in for a reported credit card machine breach.
Police reported on three different days Foster scanned items for paying customers in February but had increased the prices on each total. The cost of each item was refunded to a credit card belonging to Foster. Foster closed out eight transactions that concluded a total loss of $547,187.
“It was a situation of fraudulent returns where she would have an item she would mark up over price, and return the difference to a credit card in her name and then deposit to herself the money to different bank accounts,” Burlington police Chief Thomas Browne said, WCVB reported.
An investigation led authorities to her bank transactions which showcased that Foster made several large transactions between Feb. 2 and Feb. 22, including the purchase of a $35,000 Tesla, a round trip flight for $6,000 through Delta Airlines, more than $20,000 on a hotel in Maui, Hawaii, and about $5,000 in Louis Vuitton purchases.
Authorities arrested Foster at her Lasell dorm and charged her with larceny over $1,200.
According to WCVB, Lasell University still has Foster enrolled as a women’s track and field member.
“We are aware that a Lasell University student was arrested on Wednesday. The responsibility of all students to comply with local, state and federal laws applies both on- and off-campus,” the school said in a statement.
Foster is scheduled to appear Wednesday, March 15, in Woburn District Court.