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and Information Protection
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Utica, NY 13502
Identity Theft News
December 31, 2013
Protecting Yourself from Identity Theft in the New Year
Consider adopting some of these practices to safeguard your identity in the coming year ...read full article
December 31, 2013
Identity Theft Used to Pay Thousands in Parking Tickets
A Department of Investigations inquiry has found that individuals have used stolen credit card information to pay parking tickets costing thousands of dollars. The tickets were paid using the City of New York’s website. ...read full article
December 28, 2013
Father Allegedly Steals Son’s Identity
A Bronx man has been arrested after allegedly using his son’s personal identification information, including his Social Security number, to open multiple accounts. ...read full article
December 26, 2013
'Skimmer’ Devices Illegal in Michigan
Legislation signed by Governor Rick Snyder has banned the sale, purchase, or use of ‘skimmer’ devices in Michigan. ...read full article
December 19, 2013
Target Data Breach: What You Need to Know
Learn more about the recent data breach experienced by retail giant Target. Also included are tips for detecting and preventing card fraud. ...read full article
December 18, 2013
Former SDSU Employee Charged With Identity Theft
A former South Dakota State University secretary has been charged with identity theft after she allegedly opened multiple credit cards in the name of a fellow employee. ...read full article
December 18, 2013
Are You at Risk for ‘Porch Pirating’ This Holiday Season?
Learn ways to avoid this trend in identity theft crimes which occurs when delivered packages are stolen from your doorstep when no one is home. ...read full article
December 16, 2013
Police Arrest Identity Theft Ring Leaders
A Washington couple, described as repeat identity theft offenders, has been arrested after police say they swindled Snohomish County residents out of more than $200,000.
December 12, 2013
Report Finds Identity Theft Losses Total More Than All Other Property Crimes Combined
A new report by the Bureau of Justice Statistics has found that Americans suffered $10 billion more in identity theft costs last year than all other property crimes measured by the National Crime Victimization Survey. ...read full article
December 11, 2013
Identity Theft Described as Maine’s Most Prevalent Crime
A recent victimization study conducted by the University of Southern Maine’s Muskie School of Public Service has indicated that identity theft is the most prevalent crime in Maine. ...read full article
December 8, 2013
NY Man Receives Prison Sentence for Aggravated Identity Theft, Access Device Fraud
Maurice Pugh has been sentenced to more than three years in prison for his participation in a scheme to create fake credit cards using stolen IDs. The scheme affected 400 individuals and 59 financial institutions. ...read full article
December 5, 2013
California Couple Commits Cross-County ID Theft Scheme
A California couple has pleaded guilty subsequent to their arrest in February at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. The couple was found to be in possession of approximately 100 fraudulent credit cards at the time of their arrest. ...read full article
December 4, 2013
Holiday Season May Mean Increased Risk for Identity Theft
Use caution when you are online this holiday season to avoid phishing attacks and spoofed websites that seek to gather information that will later be used to commit identity theft. ...read full article
December 3, 2013
New Law to Combat Child Identity Theft
Under a new law, authored by Pennsylvania State Rep. Matt Baker, children under the age of 18 will be considered members of a protected class of identity theft victims. Under the new statute, when an offense is perpetrated against a member of a protected class, the grading of the offense is increased by one degree. ...read full article
December 3, 2013
Oneonta Police Arrest Identity Theft, Forgery Suspect
Lafayette Alexander, 57, of Hollis, NY has been accused of fraudulently applying for a business loan. It is alleged that he presented a fake driver’s license and other false documents with the identity of another individual. ...read full article
December 2, 2013
Cyber Monday Identity Theft Prevention
When making holiday purchases online remember to take steps to safeguard your personal information. Follow these suggestions to ensure you are not at risk this holiday shopping season. ...read full article
December 2, 2013
VA Cardholders May Be at Risk of Identity Theft Schemes
The Department of Veterans Affairs warns cardholders that identification cards issued since 2004 may be scanned using a smartphone or barcode app to reveal the cardholder’s Social Security number. ...read full article
November 29, 2013
Two Arrested in Connection With Theft of Identities Belonging to Active-duty Army Reservists
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has arrested two men in connection with the theft of identity information belonging to more than five U.S. Army Reserve Officers on active-duty in Afghanistan. The information was used to open lines of credit and purchase vehicle, resulting in a loss totaling more than $100,000. ...read full article
November 27, 2013
Identity Theft Suspect Busted in Furniture Store Sting
After learning that a credit card used to place an order for a $4,500 bedroom set was fraudulent, a furniture store manager worked with police to set up a sting which led to the perpetrators arrest. ...read full article
November 21, 2013
Senate Finance Chairman Baucus Releases Proposal to Aid in Reduction of Tax Fraud, Identity Theft
A proposal newly released by U.S. Senator Max Baucus includes some suggested steps to fight tax-related identity theft and tax fraud. ...read full article
November 19, 2013
Miami Man Pleads Guilty; Ties to Russian-based ID Theft Syndicate
Alexander Kostyukov has pleases guilty to five federal charges including participation in a racketeering organization, conspiracy, and three charges of trafficking in and production of false identification documents. Fifty-five people have been indicted in the case. ...read full article
November 18, 2013
Is Your Identity at Risk this Holiday Season?
The holidays can be prime time for opportunistic identity thieves looking to steal your personal information. Be aware of some of the preferred online scams and learn how to avoid them this year. ...read full article
November 18, 2013
New Enhancement to E-Verify Seeks to Deter ID Theft
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services officials are now authorized to “lock” a SSN that appears to have been misused in order to prevent further potential fraudulent use. The new enhancement applies to the E-Verify system, run by the Department of Homeland Security, which allows employers to verify the eligibility of new employees. ...read full article
November 16, 2013
Victim Finds Relief from Erroneous Tax Debt Resulting from UK’s Worst Case of Identity Theft
Adrian Richards has won a three-year battle with German tax authorities over an unpaid tax bill in his name. Mr. Richards was the victim of identity theft after his passport was stolen in 2003 and was used, with a different photograph, to setup a company in the Isle of Man. ...read full article
November 14, 2013
Two Women Charged After Allegedly Stealing Personal Identification Information of Cancer Patients
Salina Soriano and Regina Kennedy have been charged with felony identity theft after they were found to be in possession of stolen mail and the personal information of patients of an East Bay breast cancer center. ...read full article
November 13, 2013
Hackers Launch Cyber Attack on Irish Company; Data on 1.5 Million Europeans Stolen
Personal data of Europeans who had enrolled in customer-loyalty programs has been compromised after hackers gained access to credit card numbers and security codes from Loyaltybuild, a firm that manages loyalty programs for merchants in five European countries. ...read full article
November 8, 2013
Pair Allegedly Steal Identities of Multiple Celebrities
Federal authorities have arrested Jonathan Preston and Lumi Nunez for allegedly stealing the identities of high-profile celebrities and making purchases including Tiffany & Co. diamonds, Honda Vespa scooters, and three Cadillacs. ...read full article
November 7, 2013
Tax Refund Fraud Recognized as a Growing Problem
According to a U.S. Internal Revenue Service watchdog, tax refund fraud is a problem that has been growing over recent years. There also appears to be an increasing number of thieves working from abroad to commit tax refund fraud. ...read full article
November 6, 2013
Widespread Identity Theft Case; Ten Indicted
Multiple suspects have been indicted by a Denver grand jury after allegedly victimizing more than 270 individuals and various businesses. Businesses allegedly victimized include Wal-Mart, Wells Fargo, and the Denver Broncos Cheerleaders, Inc. ...read full article
November 5, 2013
Woman and Son-in-law Sentenced for Identity Theft Conspiracy
Quentin Collick and Deatrice Williams have been sentenced to 85 months and 51 months, respectively after being found guilty of conspiracy to file false claims, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft. ...read full article
November 4, 2013
IRS Sees Two Convicted in Separate ID Theft Cases
Berness Swan, 44, of Spring Hill has admitted to stealing personal identification information belonging to patients from the clinic where he was previously employed to file fraudulent tax returns. In a separate case, Kenyon Lamont Williams, 43, San Diego, was convicted of five counts including conspiracy to defraud the United States, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft. ...read full article
November 3, 2013
Tips for Avoiding Online Identity Theft
This article provides helpful suggestions for minimizing the risk of falling victim to online identity theft. ...read full article
October 28, 2013
Alabama Man Pleads Guilty to Aggravated Identity Theft, Mail Fraud
Harvey James has pleaded guilty as a result of his involvement in a Stolen Identity Refund Fraud (SIRF) case. James, along with others, obtained stolen identities belonging to inmates and used the information to file fraudulent federal and state tax returns in order to falsely receive refunds. ...read full article
October 24, 2013
Four Men Charged in Identity Theft Scheme that Defrauded Six States
Four Cleveland men have been accused of running a multi-state scheme in which they allegedly obtained the personal identification information of individuals under false pretenses and then used the information to defraud six states of than $360,000 in unemployment benefits. ...read full article
October 21, 2013
Medical Identity Theft Guidelines Released by Attorney General Harris
As part of a report, Medical Identity Theft: Recommendations for the Age of Electronic Medical Records, Attorney General Kamala D. Harris has released guidelines which offer recommendations for preventing and remedying medical identity theft. ...read full article
October 16, 2013
Three Charged With Identity Theft in Suffolk County Car Selling Operation
Multiple counts of identity theft and possession of stolen property have been brought against three men who allegedly used stolen identities to rent expensive cars from rental companies and then sell them at prices well below market value in order to generate cash quickly. The men allegedly obtained the stolen identity information by skimming it from credit cards at retail stores and also purchasing stolen identity information from off-shore websites. The information was then used to create fake credit cards and fake identification cards. ...read full article
October 15, 2013
Homeless Woman Stole $185,000 in ID Theft Ring
Pamela Keane, 48, of Livermore, California, was sentenced to nine years in prison for her participation in an identity theft ring that netted more than $185,000. Keane would present fake identification at various banks and withdraw money from the accounts of others. She and four others were arrested in connection with the scheme. ...read full article
October 15, 2013
Three Charged With Identity Theft in Connection With Verizon Wireless Scam
Three Chicago men have been charged with identity theft after using the Verizon Wireless account information of others. Kyndall Barnes, 21, Tyrone Mixon, 22 and Robert Robinson, 22, participated in a scheme to illegitimately gain access to the accounts of others and then purchase Verizon cell phones and other products which were later resold at higher rates. ...read full article
October 14, 2013
Corpus Christi Physician Charged for Scheme to Defraud Medicare and Medicaid
An indictment was returned against Dr. Roque Joel Ramirez, 48, including nine counts of healthcare fraud, three counts of mail fraud, and two counts of aggravated identity theft, for his alleged execution of a scheme to defraud Medicare and Medicaid through fraudulent billings for services not rendered. ...read full article
October 14, 2013
Las Vegas Woman Accused of Stealing Personal Identification Information of More Than 1,000 Individuals
Bridgette Chaplin, 32, is charged with 62 felony counts for allegedly obtaining personal identification information and using it in a check forgery scheme. ...read full article
October 9, 2013
Florida Agriculture Commissioner Proposes Legislation to Protect IDs of Children
Proposed legislation in Florida, the KIDS (Keeping IDs Safe) Act, would allow parents to freeze their children’s credit records until they are ready to use them. ...read full article
October 8, 2013
Queens Man Indicted in Massive Identity Theft and Money Laundering Scam
Olawale Akinnawonu, 45, of LeFrak City, has been named in a 134 count indictment for allegedly breaking into mailboxes and stealing the identities of dozens of his neighbors. ...read full article
October 1, 2013
South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs Launches New Identity Theft Unit
A four-person unit has been formed within the South Carolina state Department of Consumer Affairs to help prevent identity theft through education and victim outreach. ...read full article
September 30, 2013
24 Suspects Arrested in Phoenix Identity Theft Case
The Maricopa County Sherriff’s Department has executed a search warrant at the headquarters of a Phoenix based janitorial business and made a number of arrests for alleged identity theft. The suspects are thought to have used false identification to open lines of credit, make large purchases and illegally gain employment. ...read full article
September 26, 2013
Federal Authorities Indict 55 People in Massive Identity Theft Bust
Fifty-five individuals have been indicted for their alleged participation in a fraudulent tax-return scheme operating out of San Diego. Authorities claim the scheme generated $7 million and victimized more than 2,000 individuals. ...read full article
September 25, 2013
Seven Identity Theft Prevention Tips for Senior Citizens
Learn 7 tips to help safe-guard you identity and reduce your likelihood of falling victim to what Experian credit bureau experts refer to as the fastest rising types of identity theft: fraudulent tax returns and medical care fraud. ...read full article
September 24, 2013
Identity Theft Ring Swindles Major Phone Companies Out of Thousands of Cell Phones
A Michigan identity theft ring has allegedly used “credit mules” to illegitimately obtain thousands of new, subsidized cell phones from major phone companies by using stolen identities to sign new service contracts or to execute “account takeovers.” ...read full article
September 19, 2013
Ohio Identity Theft Unit Helps Victims Recover Loses
Ohio’s Identity Theft Unit works in two ways to assist victims of identity theft. In the first year of existence, the unit has helped to recover a total of $250,000 through its Traditional Assistance Program and Self Help Program. ...read full article
September 19, 2013
Suffolk Police Seek Help in Identifying Identity Theft Suspect
A man seen in surveillance photos is wanted in connection with unauthorized use of a woman’s credit card account to purchase gift cards from the Home Depot. ...read full article
September 18, 2013
New Jersey Man Sentenced to Three Years in Prison for Participation in Complex Identity Theft Scheme
Sang-Kyu Seo, 63, conspired with others to buy and sell identity documents to be used by others to commit fraud. More specifically, the conspirators of the scheme worked to obtain Social Security Cards with the prefix “586.” ...read full article
September 16, 2013
USAO Addresses Montgomery Identity Theft Problem
The Attorney General’s Award for Fraud Prevention has been given to Assistant United States Attorney Todd Brown in Montgomery, Alabama. Brown serves as the coordinator for the identity theft and tax fraud cases for the Middle District of Alabama. Read more to learn about the efforts to combat Montgomery’s identity theft epidemic. ...read full article
September 11, 2013
LA Identity Theft Scheme, 8 Members of Street Gang Plead Guilty
Eight members of the Armenian Power street gang are guilty of federal charges including aggravated identity theft, bank fraud and racketeering. They are among 70 members of the Hollywood gang formed in the 1980s who were charged two years ago for using skimming devices to steal strangers debit card information. ...read full article
September 10, 2013
Deceased Persons May Be Targeted By Identity Thieves
This article discusses a family’s encounter with identity theft perpetrated against their deceased son. It also includes tips for preventing similar occurrences from happening. ...read full article
September 4, 2013
Woman Receives Two Year Sentence for ID Theft, Tax Fraud
A Montgomery, Alabama woman has pleaded guilty to participating in a scheme to file more than 1,000 false tax returns which fraudulently claimed over $1.7 million in returns. ...read full article
September 4, 2013
Helpful Tips for Avoiding Identity Theft
Learn ten things you can do to reduce your exposure to identity theft. ...read full article
September 3, 2013
Statewide Project in Florida Provides Tips to Help Seniors Avoid Identity Theft
Seniors vs. Crime is a special project supported by the Florida Attorney General’s Office which helps to educate and protect senior citizens from harmful activities. This article discusses tips for avoiding identity theft. ...read full article
August 29, 2013
South Florida Police Detective Charged for Aggravated Identity Theft
A Sweetwater detective has been arrested for his alleged participation in a counterfeit credit card scheme. He has been charged for using a counterfeit access device and aggravated identity theft. ...read full article
August 27, 2013
New Charges Brought Against Repeat Identity Theft Offender
Amanda Rose Wise, 25, of Corvallis, has pleaded not guilty to 10 new charges of identity theft after being convicted of identity theft earlier this year. ...read full article
August 27, 2013
Three More Convicted in Statesboro Identity Theft and Tax Fraud Scheme
A total of 13 defendants have been convicted for participating in a scheme to use personally identifiable information of others to fraudulently file tax returns and obtain refunds that they were not entitled to. ...read full article
August 26, 2013
Suspects Sought in Connection With a $20,000 Identity Theft Case
Police in Montgomery County are asking for the public’s help in identifying two suspects who are wanted in connection with a $20,000 identity theft case involving a fraudulently obtained credit card. ...read full article
August 21, 2013
Two Men Indicted in Federal Court for Identity theft, Bank Fraud
Karapet Damaryan, 63, of Glendale, and Garik Voskanyan, 30, of Rancho Cordova have been charged in connection with a scheme to take control of a stranger’s bank account and transfer funds in order to purchase gold coins worth an estimated $141,000. ...read full article
August 21, 2013
Richland Man Indicted for Allegedly Stealing His Girlfriend’s Identity
Phillip John Mitchell, 24, has been charged with identity theft after allegedly opening credit card accounts in his live-in girlfriend’s name and charging more than $3,600. ...read full article
August 20, 2013
Heading to College? Make Protecting Your Identity a Priority
As students make their way back to campus they need to be sure that protecting their identity remains high on their checklist. Keep these 10 tips in mind to ensure the safety of your identity this school year. ...read full article
August 16, 2013
Woman Pleads Guilty After Using Stolen Identities to File False Claims with the IRS
Joann C. Rittall, 43, admitted that she had used stolen identities to file false tax returns from 2009 through 2012. She has been ordered to repay almost $220,000 to the U.S. Treasury. ...read full article
August 15, 2013
Identity Theft Suspect Sought by Police
SUNRISE, FL. – Police are asking for the public’s help in identifying a women seen on surveillance video using stolen identities to open fraudulent credit accounts at various retail stores. ...read full article
August 15, 2013
Five Indicted in Connection With Navy Federal Fraud
Federal prosecutors have charged five individuals with multiple counts of bank fraud, identity theft and conspiracy for their participation in an identity theft ring. Personally identifiable information was fraudulently obtained from lease applications and used to steal funds from Navy Federal accounts. ...read full article
August 15, 2013
Restaurant Employees Skim Customer Credit Card Information
Two former Pret A Manger employees have been charged with identity theft and other offenses after allegedly skimming credit card information from more than 100 customers at the 23rd Street restaurant in Chelsea. ...read full article
August 14, 2013
Federal Jury Convicts Home Builder of Bank Fraud, Identity Theft
Lee C. Tevis, 49, has been convicted on charges of bank fraud, filing a false loan application, aggravated identity theft, and aiding and abetting bank embezzlement. Tevis set up phony corporations in the names of others to fraudulently obtain bank loans in excess of one million dollars. ...read full article
August 13, 2013
Suspect Sought by Police: Do You Know This Woman?
STERLING HEIGHTS, MI -- Police are seeking to identify a woman suspected of attempting to cash stolen checks in the Sterling Heights area. The suspect is driving a Lincoln MKZ and her image was captured at a drive-through window. ...read full article
August 13, 2013
Woman Faces 79 Charges Related to Identity Theft Case
Cheryl Ann Fucci, 48, of Nazareth is facing charges stemming from her use of stolen credit card numbers to make luxury purchases. Charges include identity theft, forgery, and receiving stolen property. ...read full article
August 13, 2013
Three Indicted on Wire Fraud, Identity Theft Charges
OAKLAND -- Suspects convinced strangers to provide personally identifiable information including name, income, and date of birth, Social Security number, and type of work in order to file false tax returns. Individuals were told they would be eligible for a federal stimulus program if they filled out the form; however, the information was actually used to obtain fraudulent tax refunds. ...read full article
August 13, 2013
Glendale Identity Theft Ring Busted: Seven Individuals in Custody
LOS ANGELES -- Seven arrests have been made in connection with an identity theft ring operating out of Glendale and Los Angeles. Warrants were served at nine locations and evidence collected includes skimming devices, access-device making equipment, and blank plastic cards. Two suspects in the case are still at large and may have fled the country. ...read full article
August 12, 2013
Back-To-School Season Is Approaching, Is Your Child At Risk For Identity Theft?
As you prepare to send your child back to school, make sure protecting his or her identity is a priority on your to-do list. Remember these important tips to ensure you child is safe from the long-term consequences of identity theft. ...read full article
August 8, 2013
Former Nurse’s Aides Charged With Identity Theft
Two former nurse’s aides have been indicted for identity theft related charges stemming from their participation in a stolen identity refund fraud scheme. Personally identifying information, including names, dates of birth, and Social Security numbers, of more than a dozen patients were used by accomplices to file false income tax returns with the IRS and fraudulently collect in excess of $116,000. ...read full article
August 8, 2013
NYPD Cop Pleads Guilty to Tax Fraud and Identity Theft
A NYPD cop has pleaded guilty to tax fraud and identity theft. The 10-year NYPD veteran, who worked part-time as a tax preparer, now faces a two to two and a half year prison sentence for filing false claims with the IRS from 2009 through early 2013. ...read full article
June 17, 2013
7-Eleven Stores Operated 'Modern Day Plantation System,' Feds Claim
The owners of 7-Eleven franchises in New York and Virginia created a "modern day plantation system" in which undocumented workers were furnished with stolen identities and forced to work 100 hours a week for a fraction of their wages, according to a federal authorities. ...read full article
June 17, 2013
Pair jailed in multiple identity-theft cases
Two people were booked into the Tulsa Jail on Thursday on multiple complaints of identity theft. Tulsa County Sheriff's deputies had received information alleging that they were stealing information in order to create false driver's licenses and obtain credit cards. ...read full article
June 17, 2013
Real owner in fake landlord scam afraid of identity theft
WINDERMERE, Fla. — A mother called Eyewitness News after she was given just three hours to get out of a home she thought she rented legally. ...read full article
June 17, 2013
Woman on supervised release for identity theft sentenced again for same crime
BALTIMORE — A woman who pleaded guilty to committing bank fraud and identity theft while she was on supervised release for the same crimes has been sentenced to three years in prison. ...read full article
June 17, 2013
Cambridge woman charged with forgery, identity theft
CAMBRIDGE - A Cambridge woman is facing forgery charges in connection with incidents which occurred in Hurlock May 13. ...read full article
June 17, 2013
Store busts woman for identity theft
Tulsa, Okla. — A woman writes down a debit card number and uses the digits to create fake cards of her own. ...read full article
June 14, 2013
National Guard soldier victim of ID theft
FOX23 also identified an identify theft ring that targets members of the military. Staff Sgt. Erik Wolf is a member of the Army National Guard. After spending his life fighting for freedom, he now uses much of his time dealing with scam artists using his identity to dupe people out of thousands of dollars. ...read full article
June 13, 2013
Ceres police look to ID woman in ID theft case
CERES, CA - The Ceres Police Department is looking for help to identify a woman wanted for questioning in a case involving identity theft and fraudulent prescriptions. ...read full article
June 13, 2013
Medicare impostors target seniors for identity theft
Betty Jane of Olympia has a knack for knowing when something's not right. But a scammer caught her off guard when the phone jolted her out of a nap. ...read full article
June 13, 2013
Alabama Man Indicted for Multi-state Stolen Identity Refund Fraud Scheme
Christopher Cordelle Davis, of Montgomery County, Ala., was indicted by a federal grand jury in the Middle District of Alabama for his role in a scheme to file fraudulent tax returns using stolen identities, the Justice Department and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced today following Davis’s arrest. He was charged with conspiracy to defraud the United States, five counts of wire fraud, and five counts of aggravated identity theft. ...read full article
June 12, 2013
Missing Pa. Mom Who Was Found in Fla. Gets Jail
A mother who disappeared from her central Pennsylvania home in 2002 and was later declared legally dead before resurfacing in Florida has been sent to jail on a probation violation. ...read full article
June 11, 2013
Suffolk police arrest women wanted for identity theft, credit card fraud
Suffolk, Va. – Suffolk police have arrested two women who used stolen credit cards while shopping at several locations in the city. ...read full article
June 11, 2013
Northampton couple learns the hard way the anguish of identity theft
NORTHAMPTON — David Lalima always thought identity theft happened to other people. But after a month of tracking down and refuting tens of thousands of dollars of fraudulent charges, as well as unauthorized access to a line of credit, he knows he’s as vulnerable as anyone. ...read full article
June 11, 2013
Tech experts tie WikiLeaks soldier to data breach
Computer forensic experts have testified that they traced break-ins to a secret US government website to Bradley Manning, the American soldier charged with the biggest leak of classified files in US history. ...read full article
June 11, 2013
Tampa man sentenced for mail fraud, identity theft
TAMPA - A Tampa man was sentenced to four years, three months in federal prison on Thursday after pleading guilty to mail fraud and aggravated identity theft. ...read full article
June 11, 2013
CareFirst reports three separate data breaches to OAG
PHIPrivacy.net reminded us that many of the mistakes made in data breaches involve human error, as there have been three separate instances of CareFirst, a healthcare insurer, making patient mailing mistakes. In all three cases, CareFirst reported the incident to the Office for the Attorney General (OAG). ...read full article
June 11, 2013
Anchorage Man Sentenced in ID Theft Case
A 43-year-old Anchorage man has been ordered to pay more than $142,000 restitution and will serve 54 months in a federal prison after being convicted of identity fraud charges. ...read full article
June 11, 2013
What to Do About High Data Breach Costs
It's not always good to be Number One. According to a newly released report from the Ponemon Institute, the U.S. is the most costly country in the world in which to have a data breach. In its "2013 Cost of Data Breach: Global Analysis" study, Ponemon reported the total cost of a breach incident in the U.S. to be $5.4 million, or approximately $188 for every exposed record. ...read full article
June 11, 2013
Breaches expose state info vulnerability
Government has named and shamed a score of individuals who used technology to steal R160 million from the state’s coffers. ...read full article
June 10, 2013
Strong Security Management Helps Control Data Breach Costs: Study
Companies that take a strong security posture, create an effective incident response team and hire a chief information security officer will likely reduce the costs of network breaches by as much as 25 percent, according to a study by the Ponemon Institute that was sponsored by Symantec. ...read full article
June 10, 2013
Human Error, System Glitches Responsible For More Data Breaches Than Hackers
Mistakes, negligence and glitches are more likely to be responsible for computer-related security breaches than cyber attacks, according to a report released last week by Symantec and the Ponemon Institute. ...read full article
June 10, 2013
Ponemon data breach study finds costs up, notification major driver
The 2013 Cost of Data Breach Study, issued today by the Ponemon Institute, shows perhaps most clearly that one way to keep data breach losses low is to tell as few people as possible about your organization's mishaps. ...read full article
June 10, 2013
Federal Reserve Investigating Bitcoin, PayPal And Other Online Payment Services For Security Breaches
The U.S. Federal Reserve is investigating the possible risks in online payment systems like PayPal Inc. and the virtual currency bitcoin, as bankers worry that new online players could disrupt the financial system, officials said at a conference on Monday. ...read full article
June 7, 2013
Is mandatory reporting of security breaches on its way?
Last week Bill C-475 (a private member’s bill that proposes to amend the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA)) was up for debate at second reading in Parliament. Bill C-475 would impose an obligation on businesses to report security breaches. ...read full article
June 7, 2013
2 arrested in identity theft, extortion scheme
PHOENIX - Police have arrested two women who they say stole a woman's purse, then proceeded to assume her identity and send her family death threats. ...read full article
June 7, 2013
One-time Vernon resident pleads guilty to wire fraud, identity theft
BRATTLEBORO -- A man who was living in Vernon at the time of his arrest has agreed to plead guilty to stealing the identities of nearly two dozen people to illegally collect unemployment insurance. ...read full article
June 7, 2013
Kevin Collins ID thief guilty — again — of missing child identify theft
A man convicted of stealing the identity of missing San Francisco child Kevin Collins pleaded guilty in federal court Thursday to using another missing child’s name fraudulently, according to the U.S. attorney’s office in Northern California. ...read full article
June 7, 2013
Florida Man Gets 58 Months in Prison for Identity Theft Fraud Scheme
Jesus Calvo, 30, of Cutler Bay, Fla., was recently sentenced to 58 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for his role in an identity theft tax refund fraud scheme. Calvo has also been ordered to pay $9.2 million in restitution to the IRS. ...read full article
June 7, 2013
Dothan police make identity theft arrest
Dothan police recently arrested a 23-year-old man on fraud charges involving an effort in the unlawful purchase of $2,000 worth merchandise from a store. ...read full article
June 7, 2013
Woman brought in for questioning on ID theft arrested on drug charges
ELKO — Detectives who were questioning a woman Wednesday about an identity theft case said they spotted syringes sticking out of her purse and they arrested her on drug charges, said Elko Police Capt. Will Lehmann. ...read full article
June 7, 2013
2 Identity Theft, Car Theft Suspects Arrested by Napa County Sheriff's Deputy
A Napa County Sheriff's Deputy arrested two suspects in numerous area mail and Yountville-area car thefts Wednesday evening after a traffic stop. ...read full article
June 7, 2013
Nicked unencrypted PC with 6,000 bank details lands council fat fine
The Information Commissioner’s Office has fined Glasgow City Council £150,000 for losing two unencrypted laptops, one with the personal details of more than 20,000 people - just two years after a similar blunder. ...read full article
June 6, 2013
Data breaches cost consumers billions of dollars
Data breaches are bad for business, but the resulting fraud can be devastating to the people who’ve had their personal information compromised. ...read full article
June 6, 2013
Ewa woman becomes victim of Facebook identity theft
Facebook identity theft can affect more than just the individual. An Ewa woman’s friends and family were also put at risk. ...read full article
June 6, 2013
UMass warns of possible data breach
AMHERST, Mass. (AP) -- The University of Massachusetts is informing nearly 1,700 clients of its Center for Language, Speech and Hearing that private data, including Social Security numbers, may have been compromised when a computer workstation was infected by a malicious software program. ...read full article
June 6, 2013
Oklahoma man gets 6.5 year sentence for ID theft and tax fraud
Oklahoma City resident Daniel Wayne Ausmus, 44, was sentenced to serve 78 months in prison for aggravated identity theft, mail fraud and submitting false claims to the United States. ...read full article
June 6, 2013
Javelin Study: Data Breaches Spawn Fraud Boom
First comes the notification that your personal data have been compromised in a data breach. And as sunset follows sunrise, increasingly that notification is followed by actual dollar losses in fraud on personal accounts, said Javelin Strategy and Research in its recently released 2013 DATA BREACH FRAUD IMPACT REPORT: Mitigating a Rapidly Emerging Driver of Fraud. ...read full article
June 6, 2013
Rockford man sentenced for wire fraud, identity theft
ROCKFORD (WREX) - A Rockford man is sentenced to more than five years in federal prison for wire fraud and identity theft. ...read full article
June 6, 2013
Elroy man charged with fraud and identity theft
A federal grand jury sitting in Madison has indicted an Elroy many on charges of fraud and identity theft. Timothy D. Mueller, 45, Elroy, is charged with eight counts of wire fraud and two counts of identity theft. According to the indictment, he was the owner of businesses involved in sales of residential windows and doors, known as Advance Home Tech/Custom Creations and later, as Windesign. ...read full article
June 6, 2013
Annapolis woman a victim of identity theft
A 49-year-old Annapolis woman reported to city police that she had been a victim of identity theft after someone made more than $1,000 in online purchases in her name. ...read full article
June 6, 2013
Man agrees to identity theft plea in Vt.
BRATTLEBORO, Vt. (AP) — A man in Vermont has agreed to plead guilty to stealing the identities of about two dozen people to collect unemployment insurance. ...read full article
June 6, 2013
McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Hacked & Accounts Leaked
A hacker group using the handle Group Hp-Hack has announced another leak of data today, this time from McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine ...read full article
June 6, 2013
Linh Crystal Breached, 7,000+ Account Credentials Leaked by @JM511
A hacker using the handle @JM511 who is well known for their data leaks has leaked a dump of data from the Linh Crystal website ...read full article
June 4, 2013
Arlington school employees notified about possible data breach
ARLINGTON — Arlington school district employees and some former employees were notified this week that two laptops possibly containing their personal information were stolen overnight May 27 from the administration building. ...read full article
June 4, 2013
Phishers Use Name of Turkish Police Force in Facebook Scheme
Cybercriminals have come up with a clever way to get Turkish users to hand over their Facebook account credentials. They’re abusing the name of the Turkish Police Force to make their scam more genuine-looking. ...read full article
June 4, 2013
Police Release Photo in Theft from Vehicle, Identity Theft Case
A case of theft of a purse, credit cards and personal checks from a vehicle parked in Carderock Park in Bethesda in January may be one step closer to being solved. ...read full article
June 4, 2013
Waterloo Woman Gets Probation for Forgery, Identity Theft
WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — A 48-year-old Waterloo woman accused of using her mother's identity to open a credit card account has been given probation and ordered to make restitution. ...read full article
June 4, 2013
ID theft lands man in prison
NORMAN — Daniel Wayne Ausmus, 44, of Oklahoma City, was sentenced to serve 78 months in prison for aggravated identity theft, mail fraud and submitting false claims to the United States. ...read full article
June 3, 2013
‘Smishing’ suspects to appear in court
Cape Town - Police say they have bust a gang in Maitland suspected of the little-known smishing, a form of fraud using SMSes and e-mails in identity and card theft. ...read full article
June 3, 2013
SEC and CFTC adopt identity theft red flags rules
The SEC and the CFTC jointly issued final Red Flags Rules on April 10, 2013. While the Red Flags Rules issued by the SEC and the CFTC are largely similar to the Red Flags Rules adopted by the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (“FCRA”) in 2007, the Commissions acknowledged that the adopting release and the final Red Flags Rules contain certain guidance, examples, and minor language changes which may lead some SEC- and CFTC-regulated entities that previously had concluded that the FTC Red Flags Rules were not applicable to them to now determine that the SEC and CFTC Red Flags Rules are, in fact, applicable to them. All SEC- and CFTC-regulated entities that determine they fall within the rules’ scope must adopt and implement a red flags rules program intended to help detect identity fraud by November 20, 2013. ...read full article
June 3, 2013
Florida men indicted on charges related to Colorado business ID theft
A Florida man accused of unlawfully acquiring businesses by looking up delinquent firms on the Colorado secretary of state's website and submitting false documents to buy them has been indicted. ...read full article
June 3, 2013
Sacramento man indicted for fraud, identity theft
A Sacramento man is accused of applying for a passport and Social Security benefits under an assumed identity and wrongfully collecting those benefits. ...read full article
June 3, 2013
Couple Accused Of Identity Theft
WILKES-BARRE — A couple from Luzerne County is accused of stealing credit card information from Lord & Taylor customers. ...read full article
June 3, 2013
Company warns of business identity theft
Operators working in the fruit and vegetable sector are warned that unidentified people are contacting producers to buy and sell supplies of products identifying themselves as representatives from the "ORTOFRUTTICOLA PARMA" company located in San Lazzaro di Savena (Emilia Romagna). ...read full article
May 30, 2013
Two arrested in Covina for identity theft shopping spree
A Long Beach man and woman were arrested on Tuesday for stealing the identity of a Los Angeles woman and racking up credit card charges under her name. Judith Guzman, 34, and George Wusstig, 42, are accused of opening various credit cards under the unidentified woman's name. They were arrested on Tuesday while shopping at Bert's Mega Mall, said Covina police Lt. Tim Doonan. Besides the account at Bert's, Guzman and Wusstig also opened accounts at Best Buy and Home Depot, Doonan said. ...read full article
May 30, 2013
Oakland woman was arrested in major identity theft case in Benicia
BENICIA -- Police say they've arrested a career criminal from Oakland who appeared to be churning out fraudulent documents in a local hotel room. ...read full article
May 30, 2013
Leader of Hospital Identity Theft Ring Sentenced
The ringleader of an identity theft/tax fraud ring that involved Troy Regional Medical Center in Alabama has received a 10-year prison sentence, the Troy Messenger newspaper reports. ...read full article
May 30, 2013
Taylorsville woman indicted for bank fraud, identity theft
TAYLORSVILLE — A Taylorsville woman faces a 16-count indictment for alleged fraud and identity theft. A federal warrant was issued for Alisha Turnbow, 32, who was taken into state custody. She is accused of attempting to cash fraudulently signed checks or make withdrawals from accounts belonging to other people. ...read full article
May 30, 2013
Montgomerian pleads guilty in identity theft case
Montgomery resident Bridgette Rivers pleaded guilty Wednesday to her involvement in a conspiracy to use stolen identities to file fraudulent tax returns, according to the Justice Department and the Internal Revenue Service. ...read full article
May 29, 2013
Parents, patients notified of potential identity theft incident
GAINESVILLE, Fla. ? An employee working at a University of Florida medical practice who had ties to an identity theft ring may have compromised patient personal and health information. ...read full article
May 29, 2013
Shopper's tip leads police to bust suspected out-of-state ID theft ring
An alert shopper’s tip that she had just seen what she suspected was identity fraud at a Bensalem store led police to arrest four out-of-state residents on a variety of charges. ...read full article
May 29, 2013
Kyle Zimmerman Accused of Identity Theft in Thousand Oaks and Possibly Elsewhere
A 27-year-old Costa Mesa man is fighting identity theft charges in Thousand Oaks. Kyle Zimmerman was arrested at Ana Mesa Hotel on Harbor Boulevard in Santa Ana Friday following a Ventura County investigation into someone who tried to open several credit card accounts using a Thousand Oaks' resident's personal information. Money had also been taken out of the victim's checking account, according to police, who claim evidence related to the theft in Thousand Oaks as well as possibly other identity theft crimes was found in Zimmerman's home. ...read full article
May 29, 2013
Silent Witness: Woman sought for identity theft, stealings $12,100 from bank account
PHOENIX - Authorities are working to locate a woman in her mid-to-late 30s who is suspected of stealing thousands of dollars from a bank account at two Arizona banks. ...read full article
May 29, 2013
Security lapse exposes some Lifeline phone customers to ID theft risk
Last fall, when Linda Mendez was offered discount phone service through a federal program for the poor, the San Antonio mom thought it was too good to be true. She signed up anyway. ...read full article
May 29, 2013
Arrests made in $6 billion cyber money-laundering case
NEW YORK (CNNMoney) —Liberty Reserve, a major global online cash transfer business run out of Costa Rica, has been shut down and its executives arrested to face U.S. charges of laundering $6 billion. ...read full article
May 29, 2013
Preventing identity theft after a person dies
It’s sad and devastating to a family when someone passes away. It’s beyond frustrating when family members and friends have to deal with repairing damage done by an identity thief who has stolen their loved one’s financial information to drain assets from the deceased’s estate. ...read full article
May 28, 2013
Data breach puts DHS employees at risk of identity theft
Tens of thousands of current and former Homeland Security Department employees are at risk of identity theft after officials discovered a vulnerability in a vendor's system used for processing background investigations. ...read full article
May 28, 2013
Jury duty identity theft phone scam targets Colorado
Due to the extreme penalties behind missing jury duty, scammers are preying on victims’ fear of legal action by pretending to be “jury duty coordinators” questioning consumers about recent jury duty summons. This scam, which dates back to 2005, is circulating again with multiple states being hit, including Oklahoma, Illinois, Colorado, Arizona and Oregon. ...read full article
May 28, 2013
BBB warns of medical identity theft
Imagine going in for medical treatment and finding out that your medical records, including your blood type, have been altered. That was the experience of a Florida woman who became the victim of medical identity theft. ...read full article
May 28, 2013
Harrington woman charged with ID theft
A 38-year-old Harrington woman was arrested today and charged with identity theft, town police said. Tammy Lasher opened one bank account on the internet in the name of a relative and attempted to open a second account in the victim’s name, Lt. Earl K. Brode said. ...read full article
May 28, 2013
Pair facing identity theft, conspiracy charges
The story that John Ryall offered about the $14,000 cash and eight credit cards in his hotel room, and the plastic bags filled with chemicals in his sports utility vehicle sounded hard to believe to police. ...read full article
May 28, 2013
White Bear Lake man accused of identity theft, falsely claiming citizenship
A man living in White Bear Lake was indicted Wednesday in federal court on one count of falsely claiming citizenship and another count of identity theft. ...read full article
May 28, 2013
Identity-theft scams involve more than credit cards
Not all that long ago, many of us thought we only had to watch our credit cards to avoid ID theft. If the crooks didn't get the numbers on our plastic, we thought, they couldn't live it up and go on a wild shopping spree like the one in the movie "Identity Thief." ...read full article
May 28, 2013
Woman involved in hospital identity theft sentenced to 10 years
A woman who pled guilty in an identity theft/tax refund scam involving Troy Regional Medical Center records has been sentenced to 10 years in prison. ...read full article
January 18, 2013
Alabama Residents Indicted Stolen Identity Refund Fraud Conspiracy
Mary and Christian Young and Octavious Reeves were indicted by a federal grand jury in the Middle District of Alabama on a variety of charges stemming from an identity theft and tax fraud conspiracy, the Justice Department and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced today. The alleged conspirators were charged in a 31-count indictment that was returned on Dec. 18, 2012, and unsealed today. ...read full article
January 18, 2013
Female suspect seeking identity theft victims in Santa Clarita
SANTA CLARITA, Calif. (KABC) -- A woman is looking for potential victims who closely resemble her, so she can steal their driver's licenses and much more. ...read full article
January 18, 2013
DJJ breach could lead to ID theft
The Florida Department of Juvenile Justice announced a security breach following the theft of a mobile device that was stolen from a secure DJJ office on Jan. 2. ...read full article
January 18, 2013
Former Fugitive CPA Pleads Guilty in Identity Theft Tax Case
A former CPA and tax preparer who spent three years on the run as a fugitive in Pakistan has pleaded guilty to charges of engaging in a tax refund conspiracy after he was accused of using the names and Social Security numbers of dead people to submit false claims for income tax refunds. ...read full article
January 18, 2013
US authorities jail illegal Jamaican immigrant for identity theft
TAMPA, United States, Thursday January 17, 2013 – United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has reported that an illegal Jamaican immigrant has been jailed for identity theft. ...read full article
January 18, 2013
Dyersburg resident recounts ID theft ordeal
The Federal Trade Commission reported in February 2012 that approximately 1.8 million Americans were victims of identity theft in 2011. Identity theft and similar scams cost Americans an estimated $1.5 billion in 2011. Figures for 2012 have not been released yet but are expected to be higher as they have been over the last five years. ...read full article
January 17, 2013
Cordele, Georgia, Resident Indicted for Using Stolen Identities on False Tax Returns
A federal grand jury in Macon, Ga., returned an indictment charging Kimberly Michelle Banks, a resident of Cordele, Ga., with crimes involving the use of stolen identities on false federal income tax returns in order to obtain refunds to which Banks was not entitled. ...read full article
January 17, 2013
Man wanted for $30,000 ID theft in West Goshen
WEST GOSHEN TWP., Pa. - January 17, 2013 (WPVI) -- West Goshen Township Police are looking for an identity theft suspect who they say bought $30,000 worth of merchandise by opening credit accounts under another man's name. ...read full article
January 17, 2013
W.Va. woman sentenced for child’s identity theft
MARTINSBURG, W.Va. (AP) — A former middle school teacher in Martinsburg has been sentenced to five years in prison for using one of her children’s Social Security numbers to obtain credit accounts that she couldn’t pay back. ...read full article
January 17, 2013
ID theft ringleader sentenced to 20 years in prison
"I am sorry for what I did,” said Pyong "Peter" Pak, 42, testifying at his sentencing hearing in Circuit Court. What Pak did according to prosecutors, was mastermind a widespread identity theft ring. ...read full article
January 17, 2013
Camarillo man arrested on suspicion of operating identity theft ring
A 45-year-old Camarillo man was arrested this week on suspicion of running an identity theft ring, Ventura County sheriff's officials said Wednesday. ...read full article
January 17, 2013
ID theft webinar outlines red flags to watch for on accounts
CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCIV) – South Carolina residents like Heather Popovich were notified by letter that their personal information was hacked. ...read full article
January 16, 2013
California Tax Return Preparer Pleads Guilty to Tax Refund Conspiracy
Masood Chotani, a CPA and tax return preparer from Los Angeles County, Calif., pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to defraud the United States, the Justice Department and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced. On June 23, 2010, Chotani was indicted by a federal grand jury in Riverside, Calif., on charges of engaging in a scheme to file false returns with the IRS using the names and Social Security numbers of deceased individuals. ...read full article
January 16, 2013
Ex-teacher pleads guilty to identity theft
MARTINSBURG - A former Spring Mills Middle School teacher was sentenced Monday to serve five years in prison after pleading guilty to stealing her daughter's identity. ...read full article
January 16, 2013
APD to charge man for ID?theft
At least two area businesses have made claims against an Andalusia man who was arrested for allegedly using false identities to steal an estimated $100,000 in Birmingham, police said Tuesday. ...read full article
January 16, 2013
Klemme woman charged with identity theft
KLEMME — A co-owner of a Klemme business has been charged with identity theft. Tina Marie Badker, 41, one of the owners of the Shamrock Restaurant and Lounge, faces one count of identity theft, a Class D felony. ...read full article
January 16, 2013
Suspects wanted for identity theft in Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs police are investigating a case of identity theft. Police say it happened December 23. The victim noticed his car window had been broken into after service at the Beth El Mennonite Church on Ranch Drive. ...read full article
January 16, 2013
Revenue Dept. to Hold Free Identity Theft Webinars
Columbia, SC (WLTX) - The South Carolina Department of Revenue is offering free identity theft webinars. ...read full article
January 15, 2013
Former Texas Department of Health Employee Charged with Identity Theft
Over the past few years, the image of the US Health Department has often been stained because of fraud-related crimes committed by the organization’s employees. Now, law enforcement authorities have identified another fraud case. ...read full article
January 15, 2013
60% of UK Office Workers Receive Phishing Emails Every Day, Study Finds
A study commissioned by PhishMe, an organization that specializes in offering anti-phishing training, shows that almost 60% of the office workers in the United Kingdom receive phishing emails every single day. ...read full article
January 15, 2013
Sex Offenders Can Keep Screen Names Secret
SAN FRANCISCO (CN) - California's human-trafficking law imposes unconstitutional penalties on convicted sex offenders, a federal judge ruled, entering a preliminary injunction. "Plaintiffs enjoy no lesser right to anonymous speech simply because they are unpopular, U.S. District Judge Thelton Henderson wrote. ...read full article
January 15, 2013
ADP-Themed Phishing Emails Lead to Blackhole Sites
Scammers are spamming out malicious emails purporting to come from payroll processing company ADP, according Dancho Danchev of Webroot. ...read full article
January 15, 2013
Mount Vernon And Bronx Residents Charged With Identity Theft
Bronx and Westchester residents charged by Clarkstown Police with identity theft, possession of stolen property, fraudulent credit cards and grand larceny
Clarkstown Police arrested Komi Kalefe, 22, of the Bronx and Gary Taylor, 26, of Mount Vernon on Monday night on a variety of felony charges including identity theft. ...read full article
January 14, 2013
Sheriffs: Westmoreland woman is victim of identity theft
WESTMORELAND, N.Y. (WKTV) - A Westmoreland woman was the victim of identity theft according to the Oneida County Sheriff's Office. ...read full article
January 14, 2013
Suspects Sought in Identity Theft Ring
The pair is suspected of victimizing dozens of people in Santa Cruz County, including an 82-year-old woman
Santa Cruz County sheriff’s investigators are searching for two suspects in connection with an identity-theft ring. Hernan Coto, 33, and Jesse Jurado, 32, have been linked to an identity theft ring that has victimized dozens of people in Santa Cruz County, including an 82-year-old woman whose credit cards were stolen during a burglary, according to Deputy April Skalland. ...read full article
January 14, 2013
Men plead guilty to identity theft crimes that included Ventura County victims
Two members of a crime ring that used cameras in ATM locations to steal debit card PINs pleaded guilty Friday to identity theft-related crimes. ...read full article
January 14, 2013
Officials Warn of Increasing Cases of Identity Theft
JACKSON, Tenn. - Officials warn residents that identity theft cases have increased, impacting countless victims across Tennessee. ...read full article
January 14, 2013
Grand Junction Police Investigating ID Theft Cases
GRAND JUNCTION, Tenn. - Police are investigating several identity theft cases here in West Tennessee. ...read full article
January 14, 2013
Montgomery man pleads guilty to identity theft, fraud charges
Yet another Montgomery resident has pleaded guilty to identity theft and tax fraud charges, the Justice Department announced today. ...read full article
January 14, 2013
Houston radio DJ arrested on charges of identity theft
Officials say he allegedly stole identity of dozens of KTSU donors
HOUSTON - A volunteer radio disc jockey was charged with identity theft after police said he stole the identity of dozens of donors. ...read full article
January 14, 2013
Thieves steal thousands of South Floridians' IDs to file fake tax refunds
The couple arrived at Morton's Steakhouse in downtown Fort Lauderdale ready to do business. The product they were selling: a flash drive with 700,000 stolen identifications that could be used to file fraudulent tax returns and rake in millions of dollars, according to federal documents. ...read full article
January 14, 2013
Albany woman testifies about identity theft crimes
ALBANY, GA (WALB) - An Albany woman, already convicted of embezzling government money, testified Thursday against two men on trial now for stealing hundreds of tax refund checks worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. ...read full article
January 14, 2013
Officers from three agencies arrest four in Poulsbo for drugs, identity theft
POULSBO – Officers from three agencies, including the U.S. Treasury Department, arrested four people for narcotics sales, trafficking in stolen property and identity theft Jan. 7 at a home in the 25000 block of Pioneer Way NW, Poulsbo. ...read full article
January 11, 2013
Utica College Prepares Students to Fight Cyber Threats
A recent report released by McAfee Labs warns that hackers may attack dozens of banks in the United States early next year. This real and accelerating threat underscores the need for all types of organizations to be ready for such cybersecurity challenges. Utica College is preparing students for the front lines of the war against these kinds of attacks through its online undergraduate and graduate degree programs in cybersecurity. Utica faculty members say the time for organizations to act is now. The attack referenced by McAfee Labs has been in the works since 2008 and has already resulted in losses of $5 million and 300 to 500 victims in the U.S. “Many organizations don't have the right technology in place to realize they are fully penetrated and exfiltrating data,” says Jeff Bardin, a lecturer at Utica who teaches courses including Cyber Intelligence and Counter Intelligence and Cyber Terrorism and has over 25 years of experience in the field. “On the other hand, many organizations have been implementing new technologies, new procedures and sharing hacking and malware indicators that help identify and remediate malicious attacks." ...read full article
January 10, 2013
Pair indicted for identity theft involving tax refunds
Identity theft – which costs the Internal Revenue Service an estimated $5 billion a year in illegal tax refunds – is at the heart of the first criminal case filed in U.S. District Court in Columbus this year. ...read full article
January 10, 2013
Damaging Identity Theft
Jesse Sanchez of San Benito said he just wants his life back to normal. He said he lost his wallet when he was just 17-years-old, and it ended up in the wrong hands. ...read full article
January 10, 2013
Man sentenced up to 7 years for identity theft
Nearly $12K illegally withdrawn in Carroll Valley man's name.
A man arrested in Georgia, while carrying a driver's license and credit card bearing a Carroll Valley man's name, will spend at least three years in prison for stealing nearly $12,000 through identity theft. ...read full article
January 10, 2013
Valley police search for identity theft suspect
SPOKANE VALLEY, Wash. -- Spokane Valley detectives are asking for the public’s help to identify an identity theft suspect. ...read full article
January 10, 2013
Identity Theft Victims Receive Gifts from Debit Card Thief
Susie and Chris Linford of Anchorage, Alaska, became the victims of identity theft when their debit card number was stolen a few weeks ago. They were contacted by their credit union, which informed them that their identity theft protection had kicked in and they would not be responsible for the fraudulent $5,000 online shopping spree the thief had gone on. In fact, their money was returned, and they were issued a new account number. Then they filed a police report and figured the nightmare was over. But while the Linford's story seemed to be a run-of-the-mill identity theft case, it does not end there. The next day, packages they had not ordered began arriving at their home. ...read full article
January 10, 2013
Identify Theft Suspect Ordered to Jail, Probation
Tyrone Todd, 54, will spend a year in the Oakland County Jail, records show
A man arrested at a Bloomfield Township bank while attempting to cash a fraudulent check created with a stolen identity was recently sentenced to jail. ...read full article
January 10, 2013
3 identity-theft suspects arrested in Phoenix
hree people were arrested Monday on suspicion of identity theft after they were suspected of stealing from mailboxes, according to the Phoenix Police Department. ...read full article
January 9, 2013
Feds step up HIPAA enforcement with hospice settlement
A Hayden, Idaho-based hospice is the first health care organization to be fined for sustaining a breach that affected fewer than 500 individuals. ...read full article
January 9, 2013
Tulsan Pleads Guilty in Mail-theft, ID-theft Case
A Tulsa woman pleaded guilty in federal court Tuesday to possessing stolen mail, admitting in a court document that she illegally opened mailboxes at several Tulsa apartment complexes in order to steal their contents. ...read full article
January 9, 2013
2 Accused Of ID Theft To Obtain Tax Refunds
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Two Central Ohioans are facing charges, accused of stealing identities to get tax refunds. A federal grand jury indicted Jose Luis Martinez, 46, of Columbus, and Mercedes Emelinda-Silie, 40, of Grove City, charging them both with one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States government by obtaining and negotiating U.S. Treasury checks representing purported tax refunds; 39 counts of converting U.S. monies to their own use; one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering offenses; one count of operating an unlicensed money transmitting business; and eight counts of identity theft. ...read full article
January 9, 2013
Police: Woman used sister's identity in theft
BEAVER — Charges against one woman were dropped and new charges filed against her sister after police said she gave authorities her sister’s name when she was arrested. ...read full article
January 9, 2013
Jal Accountant Arraigned on Federal Fraud and Identity Theft Charges
ALBUQUERQUE—This morning, Roger L Baeza, 31, of Jal, New Mexico, was arraigned on an 81-count indictment charging him with 78 counts of securities fraud, one count of access device fraud, and two counts of aggravated identity theft. Baeza entered a not guilty plea to the indictment during his arraignment hearing. United States Attorney Kenneth J Gonzales said that Baeza is charged with defrauding two Jal-based businesses, Lea Energy Services LLC and Fulfer Oil & Cattle Company LCC, of approximately $572,000 between June 2010 and February 2012. During that period, Baeza was employed as the in-house accountant by the owners of the two businesses. ...read full article
January 9, 2013
Facebook argues to protect user content in Portland murder case
Facebook attorneys appeared in a Portland courtroom this week to fight what is becoming an increasingly common demand across the country: Turn over user content that lawyers say they need to defend clients accused of murder, robbery and other crimes. ...read full article
January 8, 2013
Georgia Woman Indicted for Stealing Identities to Obtain Tax Refunds
A federal grand jury in Montgomery, Ala., returned a superseding indictment charging Deatrice Smith Williams and Quentin Collick for their roles in a stolen identity refund fraud conspiracy, Assistant Attorney General Kathryn Keneally of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Alabama George L. Beck Jr. and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced today. The 13 count indictment charges Williams and Collick with conspiracy to file false claims, theft of public funds, wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. ...read full article
January 8, 2013
Former state HHS employee charged with identity theft; Hundreds may be impacted
During the first week of the new year, the Titus County Sheriff’s Office (TCSO) received multiple complaints from citizens regarding identity theft. ...read full article
January 8, 2013
The IRS offers PINs for identity theft victims
ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. -- Jessica Douglas, has been a tax preparer for Jackson Hewitt since 2006, according to her, Internal Revenue Service fraud is a crime she sees all too often. ...read full article
January 8, 2013
Benita Cardona-Gonzalez, Undocumented Immigrant, Pleads Guilty To Stealing Candida Gutierrez's Identity
WICHITA, Kan. -- An undocumented immigrant accused of assuming the persona of a Texas teacher pleaded guilty Monday in a case that put a face on the growing crime of "total identity theft" in the United States. ...read full article
January 8, 2013
Lower Paxton Police assisting police in Kentucky and Ohio for identity theft and access device fraud
Lower Paxton Township Police are working with authorities in Kentucky and Ohio attempting to identify a suspect in an identity theft and access device fraud. ...read full article
January 8, 2013
Everett police bust massive ID theft ring
EVERETT, Wash. -- Using hotels as hubs for a crime network has a big catch -- the paper trail. ...read full article
January 8, 2013
Syracuse gym owner charged with identity theft
SYRACUSE -- The owner of a Syracuse gym is accused of identity theft. 32-year-old Justin Edmond, the owner of "Just in Shape" gym, is charged with forgery and identity theft. ...read full article
January 4, 2013
Colorado Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Defraud the IRS out of $1.8 Million Dollars
Thomas William Quintin, 65, formerly of Denver, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States with respect to claims, and one count of misuse of a Social Security number (SSN), before U.S. District Court Judge R. Brooke Jackson, the U.S. Department of Justice and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced. Quintin is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Jackson on April 2, 2013. ...read full article
January 4, 2013
Over 3,000 Confidential Documents Stolen by Hackers from Japan’s Agriculture Ministry
Foreign hackers might have stolen over 3,000 confidential documents – including ones on the Trans-Pacific Partnership multilateral trade pact – from Japan’s Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry after infecting the ministry’s systems with a piece of malware. ...read full article
January 4, 2013
Sites of Capital One, HSBC, Fifth Third Bank, Ally Financial Disrupted by DDOS Attacks
Another series of bank websites have been disrupted by distributed denial-of-service (DDOS) attacks launched by Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Cyber Fighters, as part of the fourth week of Operation Ababil 2. ...read full article
January 4, 2013
Popular office phones vulnerable to eavesdropping hack, researchers say
High-tech telephones common on many workplace desks in the U.S. can be hacked and turned into eavesdropping devices, researchers at Columbia University have discovered. ...read full article
January 3, 2013
Woodburn Bookkeeper Arrested For Identity Theft
A 37-year old bookkeeper from Woodburn has been arrested and cited for multiple counts of identity theft and computer crimes after deputies completed a 3-month investigation into money missing from her employer. ...read full article
January 3, 2013
Porn troll facing ID theft charges wants judge off case
Prenda Law says the judge is biased against copyright trolls
Prenda Law, a copyright litigation firm that has sued thousands of anonymous Internet users for sharing pornographic videos, has sought the dismissal of a California judge after the judge ordered the firm to answer charges that it engaged in identity theft. Prenda charges that the judge, Otis Wright, is biased against pornographic copyright holders seeking to enforce their rights. ...read full article
January 3, 2013
Bans on Employer Demands for Personal Passwords Go Into Effect
In spring of last year, reports began surfacing that some employers were demanding that current and sometimes prospective employees hand over the log-in credentials or otherwise provide access to their various social media accounts. People were outraged. Such invasions of what many perceive as their personal, albeit, online privacy prompted much debating and the writing of a never-ending slew opinion pieces. ...read full article
January 3, 2013
World Wildlife Foundation China Hacked, Details of 80,000 Users Leaked
A hacker collective called DarkWeb Goons, recently founded by a former member of the Grey Security group, has breached the official website of World Wildlife Foundation China (wwfchina.org). ...read full article
January 2, 2013
Man Accused of 16 Counts of ID Theft
A 23-year-old Racine man is accused of stealing credit cards from his mother and another woman, then using them at area businesses. ...read full article
January 2, 2013
Pair arrested and charged with identity theft
Two Salem residents were arrested for ID theft and other charges at a Howard Johnson motel, 2250 Mission St. SE, about 4 p.m. Friday, Salem police said. ...read full article
January 2, 2013
Pueblo authorities look for identity theft suspects
Pueblo Crime Stoppers is asking for the public's assistance identifying suspects of an identity theft. ...read full article
January 2, 2013
Hollywood man convicted in identity theft scheme
A Hollywood man was convicted in an identity theft scheme with fraud totaling $117,000 in victims' tax refunds, the U.S. State Attorney's Office announced Friday. ...read full article
January 2, 2013
SSNs, Salary Information Exposed In Breach Of Army Servers
'Unknown' attackers access databases of information on 36,000 people
Army officials have confirmed that cybercriminals obtained personal information of 36,000 people from multiple Army commands and visitors to the former Fort Monmouth base via a server hack. ...read full article
January 2, 2013
Identity theft can happen where you're most vulnerable: In the hospital
Identity thieves may be lurking in places you'd never expect to find them. ...read full article
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