HARRISBURG – Attorney General Dave Sunday and Pennsylvania State Police have charged four California men accused of using stolen credit card information, including data from 17 Pennsylvanians, in a scheme to purchase tickets and other items online for resale at a discount.

Andres Ramirez, Andres Maravilla, Jesus Maravilla and David Santoyo are each charged with corrupt organizations, dealing in the proceeds of unlawful activities, identity theft and related offenses.

Investigators allege the men obtained stolen credit card information from the dark web and used it to buy event tickets and merchandise online, then resold those items through Instagram.

Authorities said members of the group referred to the operation as “The Method,” and Santoyo allegedly charged $500 to teach the scheme to others.

Because many fraudulent transactions were flagged and denied before funds were withdrawn, the estimated loss to financial institutions is nearly $2 million, according to the attorney general’s office.

“These defendants utilized the dark web to steal credit card information from unsuspecting Pennsylvanians, then used that information to make purchases,” Sunday said in a statement. “Even if you are across the country, we will investigate conduct resulting in harm to Pennsylvanians.”

Officials said arrangements are being made to extradite the defendants to Pennsylvania. The case will be prosecuted in Somerset County by the Office of Attorney General’s Financial Crimes Section.

All charges are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.