His thefts grew with his appetite for money. In 1985, Mr. Minkow opened a merchant's account at a local bank, which allowed him to accept credit card payments. For the next few years, whenever he needed money, he would add bogus charges to his customers' credit card accounts and receive ready cash from the bank. If a customer complained, Mr. Minkow blamed the forgeries on crooked employees, paid up and carried on.