November 2012 News Archive

November 29, 2012

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Accused ID thief tries to score $40,000 bank loan in Hollywood

Police say Keith Gardner hoped to remain under the radar and silently walk away with nearly $40,000 of someone else's money from a Hollywood bank. ...read full article

Woman accused in massive identity theft scam

ST. LOUIS (AP) — A Florida woman formerly from the St. Louis area is accused of being the ringleader in an identity theft ring that tried to cheat the government out of nearly $1.5 million. ...read full article

Florida Woman Charged With Leading ID Theft Ring Tied To Creve Coeur Case

Authorities say Tania Henderson is connected with larger scheme that included an attempt to deposit an IRS check at a Creve Coeur credit union in October. ...read full article

Two wanted in Fergus Falls mail, identity thefts

FERGUS FALLS, Minn. – Law enforcement here are looking for two people in connection to stealing mail and using it for identity theft, according to a WDAY news report. ...read full article

Oakville Man Gets 94 Months in Jail for Fraud, Identity Theft

An Oakville man who confessed to mail fraud and aggravated identity theft in September was sentenced to 94 months in prison Tuesday in a case investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office. ...read full article

Romanian gang arrested in Australia's biggest-ever credit card ID theft

Hong Kong (CNN) -- Australian police say seven people have been arrested in Romania as part of a joint international criminal investigation into the largest credit card data theft in Australia's history. ...read full article

6 arraigned in Ala. identity theft ring

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Six people were arraigned Wednesday for their involvement in an identity theft ring. ...read full article

Inmates who ran ID theft ring from prison get 25 years

Two men associated with the Armenian Power gang were each sentenced to 25 years in federal prison Wednesday on charges of perpetrating a sophisticated identity theft ring from lockup, according to the United States attorney’s office. ...read full article

Elder abuse town hall meeting focuses on identity theft, fraud cases in the state

MOUNTAIN BROOK, Alabama -- State Representative Paul DeMarco and a panel of experts from the Alabama Department of Senior Services and the Alabama Securities Commission, sat down with a room full of senior citizens at an Elder Abuse & Fraud Prevention Town Hall meeting early this afternoon to discuss ongoing fraud trends and provide information on how to spot potential scams. In front of a standing-room only crowd at the Emmet O'Neal Library, Demarco stood firm in his belief that the statistics of elder abuse in the state are not acceptable. ...read full article

Hoover man charged in identity theft scheme

HOOVER, AL (WBRC) - A Hoover man suspected of stealing more than $100,000 from Wells Fargo in an identity theft scheme is now behind bars. ...read full article

Police are searching for two people linked to a string of identity theft

(WDAY TV) -- The search is on for two people linked to a string of identity thefts starting in Otter Tail County. The thefts and counter-fitting have now stretched from Otter Tail down I-94 to Wisconsin. ...read full article

NBC Charlotte helps identity theft victim keep the power on

FORT LAWN, S.C. -- Hugh and Clydeanne Mauldin run the Harmony Hills Nursery in Chester County. Both retired, it's the way they get money to pay the bills. ...read full article

Broward man pleads guilty in massive identity theft

A former employee of a North Miami law firm pleaded guilty on Tuesday to federal identity theft charges, U.S. Attorney Wifredo A. Ferrer said. ...read full article

St. Louis man sentenced for mail fraud and identity theft

ST. LOUIS (KMOV.com) -- William Lubker was sentenced to 94 months in prison on mail fraud and aggravated identity theft charges associated with a fraud scheme perpetrated on his former employer between 2009 and early this year. ...read full article

Cops: Good Samaritan ripped off after helping Sandy victim

A woman who helped a former classmate left homeless after superstorm Sandy got ripped off for her trouble, police said. ...read full article

November 28, 2012

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Where Identity Thieves are Now Living

While you are out shopping, dining, traveling and celebrating this holiday season, you should keep this not-so-jolly fact in mind: there are thousands of your fellow Americans working to steal your identity. And here's the really scary part: You might even know some of them. In fact, they could be the family next door. ...read full article

Cyber Threat Not Number One Method of Identity Theft

Much attention is paid to the theft of personal information over the Internet, but the number-one cause for identity theft turns out to be old-fashioned loss of personal effects, according to Travelers. ...read full article

REGIONAL: Woman pleads guilty to identity theft; faces 15 years in prison

NORTH COAST, Calif. – A woman with numerous identity theft cases around the North Coast and Bay Area has reached a plea agreement with Sonoma County prosecutors. ...read full article

Police: Surprise packages indicate stolen identity

St. Charles police received two reports of identity theft in the past week after information was stolen to create a line of credit to order items online. ...read full article

It's federal prison for ID thief

ALBANY — A Hudson woman who belonged to a brazen identity-theft ring that stole personal information from medical facilities across the country was sentenced Monday to 2 years and four months in federal prison. ...read full article

SC police warn of online ID theft scam

ST. CHARLES — Police are warning residents about identity theft scams after two recent reports of thieves obtaining the information and using it to order items online and having them sent to the victims’ homes. ...read full article

Romanian authorities dismantle cybercrime ring responsible for $25M credit card fraud

Sixteen suspected members of a cybercrime gang that stole credit card data from foreign companies were arrested

IDG News Service - Romanian law enforcement authorities have dismantled a criminal group that stole credit card data from foreign companies as part of an operation that resulted in fraudulent transactions totaling $25 million. ...read full article

IAEA Server Breached, Scientists' Email Addresses Spilled

The International Atomic Energy Agency has confirmed to Reuters that one of its decommissioned servers had been accessed and had data stolen from it. ...read full article

November 27, 2012

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Shredded police documents used as parade confetti

MINEOLA, N.Y. Some very private information was unknowingly cast to the winds during one of New York City's most public events: A ticker-tape parade. ...read full article

Petaluma woman arrested for theft of inheritance

SANTA ROSA -- A Petaluma woman was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of stealing her stepdaughter's $30,000 inheritance check, a Sonoma County sheriff's sergeant said. ...read full article

Rhode Island identity theft insurance schemers cop a plea

In a trial closely watched by the insurance industry, Rhode Island attorney Joseph Caramadre and his former employee Raymour Radhakrishnan pleaded guilty today to charges that they conspired to steal the identities of the terminally ill. ...read full article

Identity Thieves Prey on Gas Station Patrons, Police Say

High-tech and highly illegal devices are able to gather credit card data entered into self-service pumps.

Identity thieves have figured out how to turn aging gas pumps into cash without even "breaking and entering," according to law enforcement. ...read full article

Unemployment inquiry masks identity theft scam

AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) - Maine labor officials are warning employers about an identity theft scam that has spread to Maine. ...read full article

Judge warns public about identity theft scam involving jury duty claim

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- An age old scam has a new twist: thieves are tricking people into giving out sensitive information. ...read full article

Clinton woman faces 150 years in prison for ID theft

A Clinton resident faces several charges of identity theft and other crimes, according to state Attorney General Jim Hood. ...read full article

Sacramento man sentenced in ID theft, bank fraud case

SACRAMENTO, CA - A man prosecutors say accessed more than $150,000 from victims by stealing their personal information and manipulating their financial accounts was sentenced to two years and 10 months in federal prison Tuesday. ...read full article

Mexican National Sentenced to 54 Months in Prison for Trafficking the Identities of Puerto Rican U.S. Citizens

WASHINGTON – A Mexican national was sentenced today to 54 months in prison for trafficking of identities of Puerto Rican U.S. citizens and corresponding identity documents, announced Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Rosa E. Rodríguez-Vélez for the District of Puerto Rico; Director John Morton of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which oversees Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); Chief Postal Inspector Guy J. Cottrell of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS); Scott P. Bultrowicz, Director of the U.S. State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS); and Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Chief Richard Weber. ...read full article

November 26, 2012

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Man Convicted of Illegally Accessing AT&T Servers by 'Impersonating' an iPad

A 27-year-old New York man known online as "Weev" was convicted Tuesday of "impersonating" an iPad in order to gain access to AT&T's servers and swiping 114,000 email addresses, including some belonging to celebrities. ...read full article

Stolen Password Led to South Carolina Tax Breach

Timeline Shows When and How Hacker Entered State Tax System

A stolen state employee password allowed a hacker to breach the South Carolina tax system earlier this year, resulting in the exposure of records of more than 3.8 million individual and 700,000 business tax filers [see South Carolina Revenue Department Breached]. ...read full article

Fake Apple invoices lead to Blackhole exploit kit that drains your bank account

Online criminals targeting exploits is nothing new, but they are now taking a multi-pronged approach to compromising your security. ...read full article

HR departments at risk of malware infection after unemployment benefits email spammed out

Computer users, especially those working in the human resources departments of corporations, should be on their guard against a malware attack that is spammed out via email at the moment. ...read full article

Businesses advised to prepare for Cyber Monday

Updating your browsers and clamp down on plug-ins, experts say

CSO — Many employees will spend a portion of their day hunting for bargains on the Monday following Thanksgiving weekend, and companies should prepare for the increased security risks, experts say. ...read full article

UK student in dock over Anonymous £3.5m PayPal attack

Denies charge relating to Operation Payback campaign

The trial of a British university student accused of participating in attacks by hacktivist collective Anonymous against the websites of PayPal and others has begun in London. ...read full article

Nationwide Hacked, Customer Details Compromised

On October 3, 2012, a malicious actor hacked into the systems of Nationwide – one of the largest insurance and financial services providers in the US. The full extent of the breach is not known yet, but it’s believed that the attackers gained access to the details of tens of thousands of customers. ...read full article

November 20, 2012

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New Mexico Man Sentenced to Prison for Stolen Identity Refund Fraud

Douglas Kuester, 43, a tax preparer from Silver City, N.M., was sentenced today to 48 months in prison for filing false claims and aggravated identity theft, the Justice Department and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced today. Kuester was also ordered to pay $911,000 in restitution and will be on supervised release for three years after completing his prison sentence. ...read full article

Man accused of stealing identities to get fraudulent tax refunds

A 20-year-old North Miami man turned up in Miami federal court on Monday, to face accusations of identity theft and tax fraud, according to U.S. Attorney Wifredo A. Ferrer. ...read full article

Kuester sentenced in identity theft case

A Silver City tax preparer was sentenced to four years in federal prison Monday and ordered to pay $911,000 in restitution for using stolen identities to prepare fraudulent tax returns and pocketing the refunds, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said. ...read full article

Davidson woman faces charges of identify theft, unlicensed day care

A Davidson County woman faces several charges after investigators accused her of identity theft and illegally operating a day-care center from her home, authorities said Monday. ...read full article

Former football player Gachelin gets 2-plus years in ID theft case

Former NFL free agent Louis Gachelin was sentenced to two years and four months in federal prison Monday for his role in an identity theft tax fraud. ...read full article

Former CFO guilty of fraud & identity theft in stock scheme

A federal jury on Monday convicted the former chief financial officer (CFO) of a North Shore information brokerage of conspiracy, money laundering, securities fraud, aggravated identity theft and other charges. ...read full article

U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey decries identity theft, tax fraud scheme

U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey used his stop Monday in the Lehigh Valley to bring attention to a form of identity theft and tax fraud he says is a major problem, both in the region and across the state. ...read full article

R.I. Attorney Pleads Guilty in Identity-Theft Scam

A Rhode Island estate-planning attorney and one of his employees pleaded guilty to federal charges of conspiring to steal and use the identities of terminally ill people in a scheme to profit from insurers and bond issuers. ...read full article

Study: 10,000 Identity Theft Rings in U.S.

Identity theft is big business. Now, we’re finding out exactly how big. The FTC estimates that as many as 9 million of us have our identity stolen each year. It’s topped the list of consumer complaints filed with the agency for the past 12 years running, garnering about 15% of all complaints. And new research from ID Analytics shows that there are roughly 10,000 identity theft rings in the United States involved in this fast-growing illegal enterprise. ...read full article

Neighbor charged with identity theft in Spotsylvania

A 75-year-old Spotsylvania County woman was surprised when she received a bill for $830 from a women’s fashion catalog this weekend. ...read full article

Dentist Hamada Markarita Of Oakton, Va. Convicted Of Illegally Distributing Narcotics, Identity Theft And Health Care Fraud

OAKTON, Va. (WUSA) -- A dentist from Oakton, Va. was convicted on Friday to illegally giving prescription pain pills to patients, workers, and a woman he dated. Fifty-one-year-old Hamada Markarita was also convicted of using another dentist's identity to fraudulently bill an insurance company for more than $160,000 in claims, saysNeil H. MacBride, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. ...read full article

November 19, 2012

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Bank tellers among 17 arrests in ID theft ring

Investigators say ring stole at least 185 identities, filed false tax returns

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Five tellers at VyStar Credit Union, a Citibank credit card employee and a hospital worker were among those involved in an ID theft ring that stole the identities of at least 185 people and used their information to file fraudulent tax returns and cash refund checks, according to State Attorney Angela Corey and others involved in the investigation. ...read full article

Houston-area man pleads guilty to health care fraud, ID theft in forged physician signatures

HOUSTON — A Houston-area man has pleaded guilty in a nearly $1.2 million health case scam using forged signatures of doctors. ...read full article

Phillip Smith, Ring Leader of a $1 Million Identity Theft Ring, Faces 22 Years in Prison

Phillip Smith, a 55-year-old Bronx native, pleaded guilty in Manhattan Federal Court today for his role as ring leader of a large-scale identity theft scam involving customers with credit accounts at big retail stores. ...read full article

Navy veteran, VyStar customer falls victim to identity theft

Woman says her identity was stolen while stationed overseas

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Holly Meadows said her identity theft nightmare started when she received a credit card by mistake while she was stationed overseas. ...read full article

Woman Charged After ID Theft Investigation

A Vernon woman was taken into custody on Friday evening after an investigation into alleged identity theft activity, police said. ...read full article

Suspects in ID theft case anticipate deal

Two accused of 'skimming' credit cards

ST. GEORGE — Two men accused of “skimming” hundreds of credit card numbers will pursue a plea bargain with federal prosecutors, their attorneys said Friday in St. George’s federal court. ...read full article

Sisters sentenced for identity theft

BATON ROUGE, LA (WAFB) - Two Baton Rouge women have been sentenced for an identity theft scheme that netted them nearly $150,000. ...read full article

Man faces multiple felonies for identity theft

BENNINGTON — A former resident of New Jersey is being held on $100,000 bail after he was charged with eight felonies based on an accusation that he had stolen the information of a South Carolina man and used it to obtain a driver’s license and register two vehicles in Vermont in 2010. ...read full article

Woman charged with identity theft and forgery

FALLS — A Bristol Township woman is accused of stealing more than $3,600 from her employer by writing and cashing checks. ...read full article

Three Seaford Bothers Plead Guilty To Identify Theft Ring Involvement

Hussein brothers each face up to 15 years in prison after admitting to manufacturing fake driver’s licenses out of their storefront smoke shops in Greenwich Village.

Three Seaford brothers have pleaded guilty to being part of an identify theft ring that “hijacked” store credit accounts and obtained more than $1 million. ...read full article

November 16, 2012

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IT needs ID-as-a-service for move to cloud, expert says

Summary: Existing IT identity management systems don't provide the fuel to run cloud's motor for privacy, security

Broomfield, Colo. - The cloud’s motor needs identity to run, but existing enterprise ID infrastructures are not fuel for that motor, according to identity expert Kim Cameron. ...read full article

Police Advise Identity Theft Precautions

Early morning on Nov. 1, Manhattan Beach patrol officers kept their eyes on a particular car maneuvering slowly and suspiciously throughout neighborhoods around 8th Street and John Street near downtown Manhattan Beach. ...read full article

"Operation Zig Zag" nabs 17 for identity theft

Bank tellers among those who helped steal over $500K of taxpayer money

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — State attorney Angela Corey along with members of the Secret Service and IRS announcing they’ve busted 17 people for stealing hundreds of identities in at least four different states. ...read full article

17 arrested in Jacksonville ID theft, tax fraud at banks

A seven-month joint investigation by the State Attorney’s Office, Internal Revenue Service and U.S. Secret Service has led to 17 people being arrested in an identity theft and bank fraud racket. ...read full article

NJ Woman Admits to Identity Theft Scheme Using Deceased Aunt’s Credit Card Information

(Source: FBI) – CAMDEN, NJ—A Jersey City, New Jersey woman today admitted using the identity of her deceased aunt to obtain access to credit card and deposit accounts, causing three banks to lose more than $30,000, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced. ...read full article

Tax fraud defendants include USD football players

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — Nine people in South Dakota and Florida, including four former University of South Dakota football players and one current team member, have been indicted by a federal grand jury for tax fraud conspiracy and identity theft, prosecutors said Friday. ...read full article

Eight People Plead Guilty in $1M Identity Theft Scheme That Preyed on Hundreds Of New York Consumers

(Source: AG Eric T. Schneiderman) - NEW YORK – Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York Preet Bharara and Special Agent-in-Charge James T. Hayes, Jr., New York Office of Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), today announce the guilty plea of Phillip Smith, the leader of an identity theft ring who faces up to 22 years behind bars. This guilty plea is the result of a two-year investigation led by the New York State Attorney General’s Office. Smith’s plea was executed today before U.S. District Judge John F. Keenan in Manhattan Federal Court. ...read full article

Freehold Resident Charged with Identity Theft

Monmouth County Grand Jury hands down indictments

Beatriz Vega, 27, of Freehold was indicted on one count of third degree impersonation, theft of identity. Between Sept. 1, 2009 and Aug. 1, 2012 is charged with "obtaining personal identifying information," of a person in Howell, Freehold Township and Freehold Borough. ...read full article

November 15, 2012

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Cuomo aide defends high bidder for DMV licenses

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - A top Cuomo administration aide is weighing into a dispute over the awarding of a contract to produce new driver's licenses with black-and-white photos. He says the choice is the best safeguard against terrorists and identity thieves...read full article ...read full article

Adobe confirms breach of Connectusers.com forum database, shuts down website

Adobe is in the process of resetting the passwords of all Connectusers.com forum users

IDG News Service - Adobe has shut down Connectusers.com, a community forum site for users of its Adobe Connect Web conferencing platform, because the site's user database was compromised. ...read full article

Spammers Trick Instagram Users into Signing Up for Premium Mobile Services

Experts warn Instagram users that spammers are trying to trick them into signing up for premium mobile services by promising them all sorts of prizes. ...read full article

Stolen code, 9-month hacking spree lead to criminal charges

Game operator: "Pay me $1500 and you will never hear from me again."

Federal officials have accused a Dutch man of hacking into a New Hampshire-based game company, tampering with sensitive user data, and using the stolen source code to start a competing online game. ...read full article

Grosse Pointe Shores Police Seeking Identity Theft Suspects

Reward offered by crime stoppers for at least nine identity theft incidents in the Metro Detroit area

GROSSE POINTE SHORES - Grosse Pointe Shores Police are asking for help identifying the subjects shown in the attached photos. The persons shown are believed to be responsible for at least nine identity thefts in the Metro Detroit area. ...read full article

York County man arrested on 29 counts of Identity Theft

CONEWAGO TOWNSHIP, York County— A Conewago Township man has been arrested for Identity Theft after a six month investigation. The Northern York Regional Police arrested 33-year old Marshall Bradley on 29 counts of Identity Theft. ...read full article

$287,000 stolen from Bainbridge man in identity theft case

BAINBRIDGE ISLAND — Nearly $300,000 was drained from the bank account of a Bainbridge Island man last week in an apparent case of identity theft, according to Bainbridge Police. ...read full article

November 14, 2012

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Adobe investigates alleged customer data breach

The information, published on Tuesday on Pastebin, includes hashed passwords, names and email addressses

IDG News Service - Adobe said Wednesday it is investigating the release of 230 names, email addresses and encrypted passwords claimed to have been stolen from a company database. ...read full article

Yes, the FBI and CIA can read your email. Here's how

Summary: "Petraeus-gate," some U.S. pundits are calling it. How significant is it that even the head of the CIA can have his emails read by an albeit friendly domestic intelligence agency, which can lead to his resignation and global, and very public humiliation? Here's how. ...read full article

Adobe Allegedly Hacked, Attacker Claims He Gained Access to 150,000 Records

An Egyptian hacker called ViruS_HimA claims to have breached the systems of Adobe. To prove the fact that he has gained unauthorized access to the company’s systems, he has leaked a file containing the records of 230 customers. ...read full article

Skype blocks password resets after account hijacking flaw made public

Knowing the email address associated with a Skype account was sufficient to hijack it

IDG News Service - Skype has disabled the account password reset option on its website following reports that the feature can be abused to hijack Skype accounts if the attackers know the email addresses associated with them. ...read full article

10,000 ID fraud gangs active in US, especially the Southeast, study finds

There are 10,000 active identity theft crime rings across the United States, with the greatest concentration in a "ring of fraud" that stretches across the Southeast from Virginia to Mississippi, according to a new report by fraud-fighting firm ID Analytics. ...read full article

'Ringleader' In ID Theft Scheme Faces Sentencing

A Woodlawn couple have admitted stealing identities and money from hundreds of people including doctors at Johns Hopkins. ...read full article

Child identity theft rising, according to FTC

JONESBORO, AR (KAIT) - In a world where technology reigns supreme, lawmakers are looking to combat identity theft, a growing problem according to the Federal Trade Commission. ...read full article

ID thefts of 49 cops lead to crime ring, feds say

The investigation began in March with the discovery that 49 Aventura police officers and six other people connected to the city government were victims of identity theft and tax fraud in the 2011 income tax season, authorities said. ...read full article

Dad fears school compromised daughter's identity

GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — A Gwinnett County family said their last name, Smith, has caused them repeated problems that could cause identity theft. ...read full article

Justices spurn ID-theft suit against government

The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued its first opinion of the new term, saying a lawyer cannot combine two laws to sue the federal government for violating identity-theft protection laws banning the printing of credit card numbers and expiration dates on receipts. ...read full article

November 13, 2012

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2 RI men to go to trial in $25M investment fraud

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - Two men accused of stealing the identities of terminally ill people and using them to reap $25 million from insurance companies and brokerage houses are scheduled to go to trial in federal court on Tuesday, facing dozens of counts of wire and mail fraud, identity theft, money laundering and conspiracy. ...read full article

Darien woman charged with identity theft

A Darien woman was arrested for using a relative's information to make purchases at a Walmart store in Batavia. ...read full article

Genesee County woman charged with identity theft

A Genesee County woman faces charges for allegedly stealing the identity of a relative to buy items from a store. ...read full article

Mushrooming ransomware now extorts $5 million a year

Malware that disables PCs and demands hefty cash payments has come a long way.

Malware that disables computers and demands that hefty cash payments be paid to purported law-enforcement agencies before the machines are restored is extorting as much as $5 million from end-user victims, researchers said. ...read full article

European Commission Officials Say Their Computers Were Hacked in Azerbaijan

Neelie Kroes, the vice-president of the European Commission, has revealed that the laptops of her advisers have been hacked into while attending the Internet Governance Forum (IDF) in Baku, the capital city of Azerbaijan. ...read full article

Shareholders kept in dark on data breaches

CSO - It happened more than three and a half years ago. So it presumably would be old news that Chinese hackers broke into soft-drink behemoth Coca-Cola's computer systems and stole confidential files relating to its effort to acquire the China Huiyuan Juice Group for $2.4 billion. ...read full article

Mobile Security Revenue for Banks?

Why Institutions Are Best Positioned to Protect Mobile Payments

Increased interest in mobile wallets and growing smart phone use are paving the way for more mobile payments, and now is the time for banking institutions to identify what role they'll play in this emerging space. ...read full article

November 12, 2012

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2 RI men to go to trial in $25M investment fraud

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Two Rhode Island men are scheduled to go to trial for an alleged $25 million investment fraud in which they’re accused of stealing the identities of several terminally ill people. ...read full article

The danger of identity theft after a car crash

Whether you are in a major car accident or even a minor fender bender, identity theft is not likely to be one of your immediate concerns after a crash. But you can't let your guard down as you swap auto insurance and other information. ...read full article

Man reports identity theft while stationed overseas

IDENTITY THEFT: A 24-year-old man reported he recently received an electric bill for $1,085.29 for service from 2007 at an address in the 200 block of Gallaher Street. The man said he was stationed overseas in the military during the dates in question. Police have a suspect. ...read full article

Identity theft conviction upheld

ASHEVILLE — The N.C. Court of Appeals has upheld the conviction of man who gave police someone else’s name when he was arrested for shoplifting. ...read full article

Man charged with identity theft in savings bonds case

An 18-year-old North Side man accused of possessing dozens of savings bonds belonging to another man was ordered held on $20,000 bail Sunday. ...read full article

Postal service cracks down on mailbox thefts

Today we learn about a federal agency solving one of our problems. In 2009, The Watchdog kept hearing from readers that the blue mail collection boxes outside area post offices were an easy target for thieves. Mail bandits fished mail out of the boxes and used checks and money orders found inside for identity theft. ...read full article

Philly man found guilty of identity theft

A federal jury in Hartford recently found Anthony Johnson, 49, of Philadelphia guilty of credit card fraud and identity theft, nearly a year after he was first detained in November of 2011. ...read full article

Identity Theft Victim Turns Amateur Sleuth And Gets Suspect Arrested

ONTARIO (CBSLA.com) — A victim of identity theft turned amateur sleuth in Ontario and helped catch the suspect who was using her debit card information to pay for his gas, according to authorities ...read full article

Texan admist identity theft to degraud Tulsa credit unions

A Texas man pleaded guilty in Tulsa federal court Friday to using another person's Social Security number to finance the purchase of a Winnebago motorhome. ...read full article

Inland Empire: Investigators nab man in identity theft and credit card scheme

A Corona man is behind bars for allegedly running a large identity theft and counterfeit credit card scheme taking place at gas stations in Jurupa Valley and Norco, officials confirmed today. ...read full article

Woman charged with ID theft after multiple burglaries

JUNEAU – A 23-year-old Marshall woman made her initial appearance in Dodge County court Thursday on charges of attempting to use a debit card that was taken during a burglary in the Town of Leroy. ...read full article

November 9, 2012

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Action 16 Investigation: Business Identity Theft

DICKSON CITY — We protect ourselves from identity thieves: People trying to steal our social security or credit card numbers and get expensive items and money. ...read full article

Woman Arrested For ID Theft, Stealing From Her Grandfather

Lexington, NC -- Deputies have arrested a 34-year-old woman for identity theft and stealing from her grandfather. ...read full article

How Medical Identity Theft Can Give You a Decade of Headaches

Arnold Salinas knows a lot about the person who stole his identity. He’s 5-foot-9, 190 pounds. He pays for pizzas with forged checks, defaulted on a $17,000 car loan and has traveled the country, racking up speeding tickets and thousands of dollars in unpaid taxes, according to Salinas and a firm he’s hired to clean up the mess. ...read full article

Md. man pleads guilty to identity theft

BALTIMORE (AP) — A Salisbury man has pleaded guilty to using information stolen from clients of a residential mental health program to open bank accounts. ...read full article

Identity theft charge traced to Salisbury

WATERTOWN — A Salisbury woman was arrested Wednesday after police say she stole $150,000 from a 95-year-old woman as part of a two-year identity theft scheme. ...read full article

November 8, 2012

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Barbados National Sentenced to Prison for Using Stolen Identities to Obtain Tax Refunds

Defendant Filed False Returns Seeking Over $120 Million in Fraudulent Refunds

Andrew J. Watts, a Barbados national, was sentenced in Chicago by U.S. District Judge Joan Gottschall to 114 months in prison and ordered to pay restitution of just under $1.7 million for devising and executing a stolen identity federal income tax refund fraud scheme, the Justice Department and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced today. ...read full article

Gaping hole in Google service exposes thousands to ID theft

Vast number of car insurance hunters at risk by flaw

Exclusive A security flaw accessible via Google's UK motor insurance aggregator Google Compare has potentially exposed vast numbers of drivers to identity theft. ...read full article

La Cañada ID theft suspect nabbed

Crescenta Valley sheriff's deputies on Tuesday arrested a man in Banning on suspicion of identity theft, the culmination of an investigation that began when he allegedly used a La Cañada Flintridge resident's personal information to open several credit accounts in June. ...read full article

Two men accused of ID theft in Simi Valley Costco incident

Simi Valley police said they arrested two men Tuesday who tried to make purchases using false identification and gift cards at Costco. ...read full article

Couple Sought in Identity Theft

The Bakersfield Police Department is asking for the community’s assistance in identifying two suspects wanted for business burglary, unauthorized use of access cards and identity theft. ...read full article

PBSO seeking help to identity theft suspect

Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office deputies are asking the public to help identify a woman suspected of using a stolen credit card. ...read full article

N. Idaho man pleads guilty to bank fraud, aggravated identity theft

COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho — A northern Idaho man who stole two checks from a resident at a nursing home and then forged the resident's name and made the checks payable to his girlfriend for $500 has pleaded guilty to bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. ...read full article

November 7, 2012

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Suspect pleads guilty to federal charges in Tampa tax fraud case

TAMPA -- A tax-refund fraud suspect has agreed to plead guilty to federal charges of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. ...read full article

Image-Stealing Trojan Exposes Victims to ID Theft, Blackmail

A new breed of malware designed to specifically target image files can expose victims to identity theft, fraud, and blackmail, researchers said. ...read full article

Guilty plea for Md. man in identitity theft case

BALTIMORE — A Baltimore man has pleaded guilty to identity theft five years after being convicted of the same crime. ...read full article

Minneapolis woman pleads guilty plea in $387K ID scheme

A Minneapolis woman has admitted to an identity-theft scheme that bilked the IRS out of hundreds of thousands of dollars in tax refunds. ...read full article

Pizza Hut Australia Hacked, Attackers Claim They Stole Credit Card Details

Hackers going by the name of 0day and Pyknic have breached and defaced the official website of Pizza Hut Australia. They claim that they have obtained the details of around 240,000 credit cards, but the company’s representatives claim that such information has not been compromised. ...read full article

Twinings Tea Company hacked, 1,600+ consumer credentials Leaked

A hacker using the handle @D0ct0r_Inj3ct0r has posted a leak of data to pastebin that comes from one of the worlds largest and well known Tea companies, Twinings. ...read full article

November 6, 2012

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Identity Theft Crew Busted

A crew of suspected identity thieves has been busted in Omaha. After hitting several metro stores a few weeks ago they came back for more. But this time the Nebraska Furniture Mart security staff was ready. ...read full article

Medical identity theft growing fast and endangering lives

“Medical identity theft is the fastest growing type and it’s also the most dangerous,” explains Alex Gardner a certified Identity Theft/Risk Management Specialist. ...read full article

BNSF employees getting scammed with identity theft

PASCO, Wash. - A series of identity thefts have led Burlington Northern Santa Fe officials to believe their employee records have been compromised. ...read full article

Somers identity theft: $50k shopping spree; 2 charged

SOMERS — A month-long investigation into identity theft from a Somers resident resulted in the arrest of two men when they arrived to pick up a package, state police said. ...read full article

Man wanted for identity theft in Arizona arrested in Saco

SACO, Maine — A man living in Saco who had an outstanding warrant out of Arizona was picked up by police on Thursday. ...read full article

Baltimore man pleads guilty to identity theft

BALTIMORE (AP) — A Baltimore man has pleaded guilty to identity theft five years after being convicted of the same crime. ...read full article

1.7M mobile apps analyzed: Users tracked and put at risk, and it's unjustified

Summary: Network security company Juniper Networks investigated 1.7 million mobile apps. It concluded that free apps cost us our privacy, expose us unnecessarily, and most app permissions are unjustified. ...read full article

US Voters Targeted with Malware Hidden in Fake Election Documents, YouTube Videos

As US citizens prepare to elect their president, cybercriminals have intensified their malicious campaigns in an effort to take advantage of the buzz that surrounds the event. ...read full article

Telecom Italia Hacked by Anonymous, 30,000 Credential Sets Stolen

Anonymous hacktivists claim to have breached the systems of Telecom Italia, Italy’s largest telecommunications company. ...read full article

Smart meters not so clever about privacy, researchers find

A University of South Carolina study found smart meters transmitting plain text information that could be used against home owners

IDG News Service - Researchers at the University of South Carolina have discovered that some types of electricity meter are broadcasting unencrypted information that, with the right software, would enable eavesdroppers to determine whether you're at home. ...read full article

McDonald’s Gift Card Scam Advertises Rogue Facebook App

Facebook users should beware of posts that offer free $100 McDonald’s gift cards since they’re part of a scheme that’s designed to lure victims to a malicious application. ...read full article

Woman Trafficked ID Theft Information, Police Say

A North County woman was discovered concealing stolen information that would have been used to steal identities of seven people, St. Louis County Police said. ...read full article

November 5, 2012

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Haley describes identity theft ordeal

COLUMBIA — Gov. Nikki Haley said Friday that she was a victim of identity theft about a decade ago, explaining her push to get people signed up for credit monitoring after the security breach at South Carolina’s revenue agency. ...read full article

Hot Line: Shameless scammers stealing kids' IDs

How would you feel if you discovered that your child’s identity had been stolen and used to get a job, government benefits, medical care, utilities, a car loan and even a mortgage on a house? You probably wouldn’t believe it, right?! Admittedly, it doesn’t seem possible, but it’s sweeping the country. ...read full article

Camille Dunn set for Franklin County hearing on identity theft charges

A Shippensburg area woman is facing identity theft charges after she allegedly opened multiple accounts and made purchases in the name of a woman she once cared for. ...read full article

Two Charged in $50K Identity Theft Probe

Somers resident's credit card information stolen, fraudulent computer purchases made.

A Bronx man and a Pennsylvania man have been charged in an identity theft probe that was launched after $50,000 in fraudulent purchases were made on the credit card account of a Westchester County resident, according to State Police. ...read full article

Gilbert man, sons arrested on suspicion of bank fraud, money laundering, ID theft at Chandler store

A Gilbert father and his two sons are facing federal charges following their arrests involving a $10 million money order scheme authorities say stemmed from the Mama Mia Panaderia and Market in Chandler. ...read full article

November 2, 2012

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Identity theft scam diverts soldier's pay

Four days before payday, Army Capt. Stephen Redmon noticed online that his Sept. 14 check was going to be deposited in an unfamiliar bank account. ...read full article

Tax preparer arrested for identity theft

PANAMA CITY BEACH -- A Panama City Beach man was arrested Thursday on charges that he used copies of clients’ tax returns to steal their identities. ...read full article

Chesterton man faces three count indictment on alleged ID theft

SOUTH BEND | A Chesterton man faces a three-count federal indictment on allegations he used his brother’s identity to acquire approximately $10,000 in unemployment benefits. ...read full article

Bay County Identity Theft Arrest

The Bay County Sheriff’s Office received a complaint from an employee in reference to identity theft. The employee realized his identity had been compromised and filed the complaint on September 24, 2012. ...read full article

November 1, 2012

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Deputies: Woman wanted for identity theft in 3 states

HENDERSON COUNTY, N.C. — Henderson County authorities are looking for a woman they say is involved in identity thefts and forgeries in Northwest Georgia, Western North Carolina and Eastern Tennessee. ...read full article

Woman captured after 12 years on the lam following Santa Clara County conviction

An escaped convict with a history of stealing and identity theft in Santa Clara County was captured last week in Virginia, 12 years after she bolted from a Southern California corrections facility. ...read full article

AL Woman Indicted in a Sophisticated Identity Theft Scheme Involving More Than 1,000 False Tax Returns

(Source: Department of Justice) -Antoinette Djonret pleaded guilty today in two cases: one involving the filing of more than a million dollars worth of false tax returns using stolen identities and the other case involving the filing of false tax returns for clients, the Justice Department and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced today. ...read full article

Bank Fraud Suspects Net $1M in Citibank Casino Scheme

Fourteen individuals were charged late last week after the Federal Bureau of Investigation, along with the Los Angeles Police Department and the Glendale, Calif. Police Department found they were behind a scheme that extracted more than $1 million from Citibank cash-advance kiosks in Southern California and Nevada between 2009 and 2010. ...read full article

Hackers crack Texan bank, Experian credit records come flooding out

Names, numbers, finances, EVERYTHING... and they weren't even customers

Hackers managed to get login credentials for Experian's credit scoring reports after they broke into the systems of Abilene Telco Federal Credit Union last year, it has emerged. ...read full article

Five Japanese detained for data theft

Summary: The five arrested are allegedly responsible for distributing malware in video apps for Android smartphones which affected 90,000 people, in what is Japan's largest information theft case. ...read full article

Woman pleads guilty in ID theft case

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Federal authorities say a woman has pleaded guilty in Alabama to what they describe as a sophisticated identity theft scheme to defraud the government. ...read full article