Aberdeen, Md. (Map, News) - An Aberdeen woman has been charged with identity theft after allegedly setting up a fraudulent account with a shop-at-home TV network.

In April, a county resident contacted the Sheriff’s Office after noticing some unfamiliar activity on her credit report. The investigation revealed that 47-year-old Mary Elizabeth Cupp, a resident of Swan Street in Aberdeen, had created an account with QVC using the other woman’s personal and financial information, police said.

Cupp made at least 13 purchases through QVC, mostly through the company’s Web site, totaling more than $1,000 in the victim’s name, sheriff’s spokeswoman Sgt. Christina Presberry said. It appears the two women knew each other, but Presberry said she did not know exactly how.

Deputies recovered most of the merchandise, which will remain in police custody as evidence until the case is concluded. Once the case is over, the goods will likely be returned to QVC, Presberry said.

Police served Cupp with a criminal summons — a document detailing charges and requiring her to appear in court without an arrest, Presberry said.

Cupp was charged with 13 counts of personal identity information theft, 11 counts of avoiding payment, five counts of theft less than $500, six counts of theft less than $100 and one charge of theft more than $500. She is scheduled to appear in court in late July, where she could face a maximum of nearly 65 years in prison if convicted on all counts.

msantoni@baltimoreexaminer.com