7 On Your Side helps Newark woman get refund after fraudulent construction materials purchase

NEWARK, New Jersey (WABC) -- According to Security.org, $6.2 billion in unauthorized credit card purchases are made annually.

A woman in New Jersey is one of the victims.

Julia Pineda said someone charged $4,700 on her Home Depot credit card.

It started in June when Pineda spotted the huge charge on her credit card statement.

"I was in shock. I said, What is this? Wait a minute, this is in Michigan. What?" she said.

She was charged in Michigan for lumber, electrical and lighting materials, which is 479 miles from her home in Newark.

She insists the last thing she bought with her account was an outdoor table at the Newark store two miles away.

She disputed the charge but Home Depot found she was responsible since her card had a chip, used at a chip enabled card reader.

They said she owed the full $4,700, the investigation was complete and that she would be reported to credit agencies if her payment was late.

"I almost had a heart attack," Pineda said.

The 68-year-old lives on social security benefits after a career in hospitality and says she can't survive with unexpected debt.

"I see in many cases that you guys that you guys solve when I see the news and I say the only thing that is there for me to do since I feel hopeless," Pineda said.

7 On Your Side contacted Home Depot with the concrete evidence explaining Julia Pineda was in fact in Newark, and nowhere near Michigan, on the day someone had purchased almost $5,000 of materials.

The proof was a receipt of an in-person cash withdrawal at her bank on Broad street, in Newark.

Within a week, Home Depot responded with the last-minute overturn of the fraud denial.

7 On Your Side surprised Julia Pineda with the good news.

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