WOODLAND – Two Woodland women are facing charges in separate incidents of identity fraud.

Northampton County Sheriff Wardie Vincent said officers in his department had made arrests in two incidents in recent weeks.

In the most recent incident, Tumesha Vonyetta Majette, 27, of Walnut Street in Woodland was arrested after allegedly using a family member’s social security number to get a credit card and then making purchases with the card.

&uot;The victim’s identity was used to get the credit card and then there were purchases of two pieces of exercise equipment,&uot; Vincent said.

Majette was placed in the Northampton County Jail under a $5,000 secured bond after being arrested earlier this week.

She was charged with Financial Identity Fraud and Obtaining Property by False Pretenses.

In an unrelated incident, another Woodland woman was charged after allegedly having residential electric power turned on in the name of a person who was deceased.

Ladye Deans Hickerson, 37, of Highway 35 in Woodland, was placed under a $2,000 secured bond after being charged with Obtaining Services Under False Pretenses. She has since posted the bond.

&uot;Evidently the suspect went to a power company and had her lights turned on in the name of a person who was deceased,&uot; Vincent said. &uot;After the bill was not paid, we were called in and made the arrest.&uot;

These two cases and an incident earlier this year where a woman’s identity was used to have telephone service in a home prompted Vincent to issue a warning to citizens of Northampton County.

&uot;Financial identity fraud is a crime that is becoming more common throughout the nation,&uot; Vincent said. &uot;I would advise our citizens to be vigilant about who they allow to have access to private information. In fact, my recommendation would be that no one be allowed to access private information.

&uot;If, for some reason, you believe your information has been compromised, please call us and allow us to check it out,&uot; the sheriff closed.