A Washington woman was among multiple victims of the scheme. A total of $1,000 had been withdrawn from her account over two days in early November from an ATM at a bank in St. Louis County.

After she filed a report with Washington police, Erisman contacted other investigators in the St. Louis area who have been receiving numerous reports of similar crimes.

The common thread in the fraud is that all the victims had shopped recently at a specific chain fabric store with outlets in St. Louis County. No fabric stores in Washington or Franklin County are involved, Erisman noted.

Erisman said in addition to the Washington woman, he's heard that two other Franklin County residents may have been victims in the scheme.

Investigators aren't certain how the thefts are being done, but they suspect that somehow the suspects are stealing debit card information and placing it on cards that they make.

Erisman said businesses throughout the area need to be alert if anyone comes in saying they need to work on their debit card machines. "They need to make sure they are legitimate," the detective noted.

Police released a photo of a man who they say may be the one who used a card with the Washington woman's debit card information.

Police said they have surveillance photos taken at a bank ATM in Des Peres where he was seen withdrawing $5,800 with 10 different "cloned" debit cards over a 15-minute period, Erisman said.

There are reports that withdrawals also have been made at bank ATMs in the Chesterfield and O'Fallon areas, and also around Kansas City.

The investigation is ongoing but the fraud appears to be widespread over several states, Erisman said.