9 Rowan students charged in $35k Boro Bucks fraud

Nine Rowan University students have been charged in fraud scheme that police say caused $35,000 in losses for a campus convenience store.

One Rowan student who worked at the 7-Eleven store on Rowan Boulevard, 21-year-old Kwadwo Brefo-Boateng, credited his student debit card account, and accounts belonging to his friends, with fraudulent merchandise returns, according to Glassboro police.

Students use the cards, called Boro Bucks, to make payments at vendors throughout Glassboro and the surrounding area.

Police said eight other students received credits for unauthorized returns on their Boro Bucks cards.

In total, police said, Brefo-Boateng entered dozens of fake returns that caused $35,000 in losses for the 7-Eleven.

Brefo-Boateng, of Lindenwold, has been charged with theft.

Also charged are Stephen Cobb, 20, of Pennsauken; James Mack, 20, of Sicklerville; LeaQuan James, 20, of Sicklerville; Malik Bard, 21, of Vineland; Jamal Clark, 20, of Pine Hill; Karina Florez, 19, of Atlantic City; Johnel Anderson, 23, of Sicklerville; and Alim Bowden, 20, of Jersey City.

The university said the students also will face disciplinary sanctions, but it couldn't disclose further details due to privacy rules.

Rowan also said it had adopted new accounting procedures to more quickly identify fraudulent activity in the Boro Bucks system and was working with vendors to improve procedures.