Cybersecurity News
December 7, 2014
2 Rhode Island men sentenced for identity theft
By Associated Press
Two Rhode Island men have been sentenced to prison for fraudulently obtaining federal tax refunds using the stolen personal information of more than 1,200 people. ...read full articleDecember 5, 2014
Identity theft scam targets Rankin sheriff's deputy among others
By Kate Royals
A scheme to use victims' personal information to file fraudulent unemployment benefit claims has affected almost 200 in the metro area, including a Rankin County sheriff's deputy. ...read full articleDecember 5, 2014
Read fine print when buying ID-theft protection services
By Mark Pribish
Deception, exaggerated threats and flawed offers are some of the improper practices being used by some ID-theft protection companies, according to Consumer Reports. ...read full articleDecember 3, 2014
Beware the ‘Letter from Santa’ Identity-Theft Scam
By Christine DiGangi
If you really want to convince your kids they’ve received a letter from Santa, practice your creative handwriting skills or ask a friend to write one — buying one off the Internet probably isn’t the way to go. While there appear to be some legitimate “Letters from Santa” businesses online and plenty of free downloadable templates, there are also people running similar operations who couldn’t care less about getting letters to children. The Better Business Bureau issued a warning to consumers Monday about Santa letter scams, which are designed to steal your money and personal information. ...read full articleDecember 1, 2014
Simple tips can help protect holiday shoppers from ID theft
By Kathryn Brown
With the holiday shopping season officially underway, security experts say crooks are looking to cash in on unsuspecting consumers. Approximately 400,000 people in the Tar Heel state were victims of identity theft last year, according to the North Carolina Department of Justice. Nationally, that number is more than 13 million. Read more at http://www.wral.com/simple-tips-can-help-protect-holiday-shoppers-from-id-theft/14235753/#Xkp8ZkfyALMvZRuT.99 ...read full articleNovember 30, 2014
TN Department of Safety and Homeland Security Tips for Preventing Identity Theft during the Holidays
By Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security’s Identity Crimes Unit
The Identity Crimes Unit offers these tips to help keep holiday shoppers safe from identity theft and fraud ...read full articleNovember 27, 2014
I Ate Thanksgiving Dinner With My Identity Thief for 19 Years
By Adam Levin
Nineteen a minute: That’s how quickly people become identity theft victims in the U.S. Estimates vary, but somewhere between 10 and 16 million Americans are defrauded each year in this way. Thanksgiving can be an awkward time of year for some victims, since family members account for more than 30 percent of the identity thieves. ...read full articleNovember 24, 2014
8 convicted in phone customer ID theft scam
By Associated Press
Eight people have been convicted in South Florida identity theft scheme in which AT&T customer information was stolen by a former call center employee. ...read full articleNovember 21, 2014
NYC Man Gets Prison for Role in Cybercrime Ring
By Associated Press
A New York City man was sentenced Friday to more than three years in prison for his role in an international cybercrime ring that prosecutors say hacked into the computers of more than a dozen financial institutions and the U.S. military's payroll service. ...read full articleNovember 21, 2014
Who’s Watching You? How to Protect From Webcam Hackers (video)
Cyber security experts in the UK have been warning the public of a Russian hosted website containing thousands of live webcam feeds. Bloomberg spoke to internet security expert, David Emm from Kaspersky Lab, and asked what people can do to protect themselves. ...read full articleNovember 21, 2014
Man sentenced in $180,000 identity theft scheme
Twenty-five-year-old Darrick Jerome Greer was also ordered to pay more than $180,000 in restitution at sentencing Friday in federal court in Baltimore. ...read full articleNovember 20, 2014
ID theft can take heavy emotional toll on victims
By Herb Weisbaum
Identity theft is in the news so often that it’s easy to lose sight of how devastating this crime can be. Dealing with a stolen debit or credit card number is generally quick and easy – you make a call, get a new account number and card, and have any fraudulent charges or withdrawals wiped away. When a crook steals your Social Security number or other personally identifiable information and pretends to be you, he can drain your bank accounts, get new credit cards in your name, steal your tax refund or use your insurance for medical procedures. ...read full articleNovember 19, 2014
Hackers Can Steal Data Wirelessly From PCs That Aren't Even Online
By Gwen Ackerman
Air-gap networks were once considered the "magic bullet" for securing data, but researchers from Ben-Gurion University in Israel have found a way to compromise those machines. Once a computer is infected with a particular kind of virus, hackers can trick the PC into relaying information that can be wirelessly retrieved from a mobile phone located outside of the room. ...read full articleNovember 18, 2014
What Class Taught This? Miami Dade College Students Charged With ID Theft
By John Pacenti
Arrests for stolen identity tax refund fraud in South Florida have infiltrated colleges. The U.S. attorney's office in Miami on Tuesday announced it was charging 21 people, including 14 current or former students at Miami Dade College—for the crime. The fraud scheme compromised about 1,000 student financial services accounts, victimizing 644 people with an intended loss amount of $1.9 million, prosecutors said. ...read full articleNovember 14, 2014
Protect Your Medical Data From Identity Theft
Identity Thieves Increasingly Target Medical Records, a Rich Trove of Personal Information
By Constance Gustke
Hackers, notorious for stealing credit- and debit-card information from stores, and other thieves are increasingly targeting medical records, which can be more valuable because they include such coveted data as Social Security numbers, birth dates, driver’s license numbers and checking-account numbers, experts say. ...read full articleNovember 10, 2014
Massive Postal Service breach hits employees and customers
By Evan Perez
Hackers recently broke into a U.S. Postal Service computer system and stole personal data, including Social Security numbers, for 750,000 employees and retirees, a U.S. official familiar with the breach told CNN on Monday. ...read full articleNovember 8, 2014
Medical Identity Thefts Give Victims a Decade of Headaches
By Jordan Robertson
Medical identity theft affected an estimated 1.49 million people in the U.S. at a cost of $41.3 billion last year, according to the Ponemon Institute. The crime has grown as health care costs have swelled and job cuts have left people without employer-subsidized insurance. Making matters worse: The complexity of the medical system has made it difficult for victims to clear their name. Salinas’s story illustrates how cases like these can take years to resolve, longer than other forms of identity theft. Salinas has been fighting his case since 2002. ...read full articleNovember 5, 2014
Augmenting Your Password-Protected World
By Molly Wood
A USERNAME and password combination has long been the standard security mechanism for online accounts. But that method just isn’t cutting it anymore. ...read full articleNovember 4, 2014
IRS Claims Progress in Stopping Tax Refund Identity Theft
By Richard Rubin
The crime of stealing tax refunds through identity theft is “no longer exploding,” U.S. Internal Revenue Service Commissioner John Koskinen said today. ...read full articleNovember 2, 2014
How New, ‘Safer’ Credit Cards May Already Be Vulnerable
By Adam Levin
A recent Gallup survey found that 69 percent of Americans worry “frequently” or “occasionally” about having a credit card compromised by computer hackers. It’s not shocking. Consumers are becoming more educated on the topic, and financial institutions are beginning to do more to combat fraud, including introducing new types of credit cards. One example of the latter is chip-and-PIN technology, which everyone from consumers to the president has hailed for its ability to help prevent fraud. But is it the panacea that it’s been made out to be? ...read full articleOctober 30, 2014
Police vs cartels in the high-tech battle to stop cybercrime
By Maggie Lake
Cybercrime costs the global economy an estimated $400 billion a year, and as it grows in scale and sophistication, law enforcement is having to do the same. ...read full articleOctober 20, 2014
Employee Pleads Guilty to Identity Theft
A veterinary clinic employee has pleaded guilty to identity theft after it was discovered that she had embezzled hundreds of thousands of dollars from the clinic. ...read full articleOctober 17, 2014
Executive Order Intended to Protect Consumers from ID Theft
A newly signed executive order aimed at protecting consumers from identity theft seeks to strengthen security features in credit cards and the terminals in which they are processed. ...read full articleOctober 15, 2014
Recent Poll Reveals Consumer Perspectives on Identity Theft
A recent poll sponsored by an insurance company offers insight into American consumers views on identity theft. The article also offers some tips for safeguarding your identity. ...read full articleOctober 6, 2014
Employees at Major Retailer Single out Customers in Identity Theft Ring
Authorities have busted an identity theft ring made up of employees from a major retailer. The employees allegedly targeted some 50 individual customers from whom they stole credit card information and used it to make fraudulent expensive purchases from the store. The items purchased where then resold on the black market. ...read full articleOctober 6, 2014
Three Plead Guilty to Tax Fraud, ID Theft
Three women have pleaded guilty to wire fraud, identity theft and other various charges in connection with a scheme to defraud the federal government. ...read full articleOctober 3, 2014
Q&A in the Wake of Recent Large Scale Data Breaches
This article addresses some questions concerning the safety of personal information and the risks related to data breaches. ...read full articleOctober 3, 2014
Is a ‘Credit Freeze’ a Suitable ID Theft Prevention Measure for You?
Some individuals may find that placing a freeze on his or her credit may be helpful in preventing potential identity theft. This article discusses the pros and cons, as well as how to go about instituting a credit freeze at three major credit bureaus. ...read full articleOctober 1, 2014
Youth Putting Themselves at Risk for ID Theft When Buying Fake IDs
Those under the age of 21 who attempt to purchase fake IDs using items of their personally identifying information may be putting themselves in jeopardy of the additional risk of identity theft. ...read full articleSeptember 30, 2014
Study Finds Many Do Not Take Proper Precautions to Prevent ID Theft
A recent study conducted by the AARP Fraud Watch Network has reportedly identified areas of concern in identity theft prevention which may be leaving many Americans exposed to potential identity theft victimization. ...read full articleSeptember 29, 2014
5 Identity Theft Prevention Tips
This article discusses 5 simple tips to help prevent identity theft. ...read full articleSeptember 24, 2014
Stolen Identity Refund Fraud Costs IRS $5 Billion in 2013
A report from the Government Accountability Office suggests that identity tax refund frauds cost the Internal Revenue Service more than $5 billion in tax year 2013. ...read full articleSeptember 24, 2014
19 Indicted in Connection with Identity Theft, Fraud Ring
A 16-month long, multi-agency investigation has yielded sufficient evidence for a federal grand jury to indict 19 people for their alleged participation in an Atlanta fraud ring. ...read full articleSeptember 23, 2014
Salon Owner Charged for Credit Card Fraud
The Robertson County Grand Jury has indicted a 36 year-old salon owner on charges of identity theft and fraudulent use of a credit card. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation alleges that the woman fraudulently used the credit card information of a salon patron to make illegitimate purchases. ...read full articleSeptember 18, 2014
Former Mayor Convicted on 11 Counts in Fraud, ID Theft Case
A former mayor has been convicted after a 2 week trial for falsifying loan documents and lying to federal investigators about a farmland purchase. The 37 year-old was found guilty on various charges including aggravated identity theft and wire fraud. ...read full articleSeptember 17, 2014
Participants in International Car and Identity Theft Ring Plead Guilty
Two men have pleaded guilty to taking part in a West-African based international car and identity theft ring. The defendants have admitted to purchasing stolen credit cards and corresponding counterfeit driver’s licenses from a Singapore-based “carder” website. The stolen identities were used to purchase vehicles from U.S.-based car dealerships and they were then exported to Africa. ...read full articleSeptember 16, 2014
Five Charged in Identity Theft Ring Involving Bank Tellers
Five individuals, three of which were employed as bank tellers, have been charged for participating in an identity theft ring. The bank tellers are accused of stealing personal and financial information from hundreds of victims. ...read full articleSeptember 16, 2014
Three Charged Following $30,000 Identity Theft Spree
Three California residents have been indicted on multiple charges after authorities allege they fraudulently obtained credit cards and used them to purchase merchandise and gift cards at various retail locations in Idaho. ...read full articleSeptember 16, 2014
Tax Preparer Pleads Guilty to Aggravated ID Theft
A tax preparer in Virginia has admitted to misusing the personally identifying information of approximately 20 clients to fraudulently apply for credit, which she then used illegitimately for personal gain. ...read full articleSeptember 12, 2014
Massive Identity Theft Ring Leader Pleads Guilty
The leader of a scheme that targeted many elderly victims has admitted to stealing the personally identifying information of hundreds to file false tax returns and receive illegitimate refunds. More than 58 people have been indicted in connection with the scheme, including multiple foreign students who were in the United States in visas. ...read full articleSeptember 11, 2014
Federal Jury Convicts Leader of Identity Theft Ring
A federal jury has convicted a 26 year-old man on nine counts for operating an identity theft ring out of a luxury Dallas hotel room. ...read full articleAugust 26, 2014
Nurse Sentenced for Identity Theft
A licensed practical nurse has been sentenced to serve time in state prison after she stole the personally identifying information of dozens of patients from the hospital where she was formerly employed. The identities of the mostly elderly patients were used by the woman and her boyfriend to fraudulently apply for credit cards. ...read full articleAugust 25, 2014
Man Sentenced to 20 Years for Stolen Identity Refund Fraud Scheme
A man has been sentenced to serve 20 years in federal prison after he was convicted upon multiple charges stemming from his operation of a scheme in which he filed more than 5,000 false tax returns using the names and Social Security numbers of victims. ...read full articleAugust 23, 2014
New Identity Theft Unit Receives Influx of Calls
An identity theft unit formed for the South Carolina State Department of Consumer Affairs has received more than 3,000 calls from concerned residents since it began operating in October of 2013. ...read full articleAugust 20, 2014
Medical ID Theft Concerns
This article discusses the importance of safeguarding your medical insurance information from thieves who seek to use your medical ID to get free medical treatment and more. ...read full articleAugust 18, 2014
Armenian Gang Member Sentenced for Identity Theft
An associate of the Armenian Power gang has been sentenced to more than 13 years in prison after being found guilty of participating in a racketeering conspiracy and several financial related offenses including identity theft. ...read full articleAugust 15, 2014
Man Faces Charges in $100,000 Identity Theft Case
One man has been captured and another is currently being sought by police in connection with an identity theft scheme that netted more than $100,000. ...read full articleAugust 14, 2014
Protecting Your ID While You Travel
This article addresses identity theft protection issues that people should be aware of while traveling, including three specific concerns. ...read full articleAugust 14, 2014
Medical Assistant Pleads Guilty to Identity Theft
A Hollywood medical assistant has pleaded guilty to identity theft after she used her position to access personally identifying information belonging to patients, which she sold to another individual for personal financial gain. ...read full articleAugust 11, 2014
Back to School Identity Theft Concerns
This article addresses identity theft concerns as kids head back to school. What types of personally identifying information is your child carrying in his or her backpack which may be vulnerable to theft? ...read full articleAugust 7, 2014
Nigerian Man Sentenced for Aggravated ID Theft
A Nigerian man has been sentenced to serve time in federal prison, and he is expected to face deportation proceedings upon his release, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft charges. ...read full articleAugust 6, 2014
Four Convicted for Identity Theft and Credit Card Fraud Ring Scheme
A fourth defendant has pleaded guilty to involvement in an identity theft and credit card fraud scheme that victimized over 250 people and resulted in more than $200,000 in losses. ...read full articleAugust 5, 2014
Illinois Survey Reveals Need for Education to Help Residents Avoid ID Theft
A new statewide online survey indicates that Illinois residents fall victim to identity theft at a high rate and increased education may be necessary to help individuals avoid victimization. ...read full articleAugust 4, 2014
USB Drives Leave Door Open for Identity Theft
Technology professionals warn that individuals need to be more careful about smartphones and USB Flash drives in order to protect themselves from potential ID theft threats. ...read full articleAugust 3, 2014
New Jersey Man Charged with 18 Counts of Forgery and Identity Theft
A New Jersey man was pulled over for a speeding violation and a subsequent search of the vehicle yielded evidence of identity theft, including 18 drivers’ licenses from 7 different states. ...read full articleAugust 3, 2014
Test Your Identity Theft IQ
This article discusses the importance of recognizing the threat that identity theft poses to everyone and provides a link to a quiz which may help you determine how informed you really are about identity theft. ...read full articleAugust 1, 2014
Missouri Car Dealer Sentenced to 15 Years for Identity Theft
A Missouri man has been sentenced to serve 15 years in prison for coordinating one of the largest identity thefts ever prosecuted in the state. ...read full articleJuly 31, 2014
Man Sentenced to 6 Years for Identity Theft
A Baltimore man has been sentenced to serve 6 years in prison for conspiring to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. According to his plea agreement, he engaged in a scheme to use the personally identifying information of others to purchase luxury goods. ...read full articleJuly 30, 2014
Fraudsters Target Children’s IDs for “Synthetic Identity Theft”
The lack of credit history may entice identity thieves to use a child’s Social Security number in combination with pieces of information such as an address from other individuals to perpetrate “synthetic identity theft.” This article discusses the emerging alternative to hijacking an individual’s name or financial information. ...read full articleJuly 28, 2014
Five Ways to Avoid Identity Theft
This article provides readers with helpful hints for avoiding identity theft. ...read full articleJuly 23, 2014
Three Arrested on Suspicion of Identity Theft
Three men have been arrested subsequent to an investigation that was launched when evidence of identity theft and credit-card fraud was found during the execution of a separate drug-related investigation. ...read full articleJuly 21, 2014
Foster Youth Prime Targets for Identity Theft
The unstable nature of foster children’s living situation and the ever increasing number of adults with access to their private information as they move through the foster care system has left many exposed to identity theft before they reach adulthood. ...read full articleJuly 21, 2014
Ways to Avoid Common Identity Theft Situations
This article discusses three common ways that identity theft can occur and strategies that you can use to prevent it. ...read full articleJuly 18, 2014
Woman Sentenced to Serve 7 Years for Massive Identity Theft Scheme
A former payroll specialist at Wheaton Franciscan Services has been sentenced for embezzling more than $1 million dollars from her employer. The identities of 848 victims were used to perpetrate the scheme, which is the largest number of victims in a single defendant case in Milwaukee County history. ...read full articleJuly 17, 2014
Summer Travel Identity Theft Prevention Tips
This article discusses some ways that you can protect yourself from identity theft this summer vacation. ...read full articleJuly 16, 2014
Police Seek Identity Theft Suspect
A man who has previously been convicted of identity theft is now on the run after police accuse him of being the ringleader in a massive identity theft ring. ...read full articleJuly 15, 2014
Attorney General’s Report: Identity Theft a Growing Problem for New York State
A newly released report from New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman addresses data security breaches and deliberate hacking which has exposed the private data of millions of New Yorkers. ...read full articleJuly 10, 2014
Mailboxes May be Lures for Identity Thieves
Police advise residents to consider their mailboxes when guarding themselves against identity theft. ...read full articleJuly 10, 2014
Couple Charged with Identity Theft
A Washington couple has been charged with identity theft after allegedly forging checks and using a victim’s stolen debit card. ...read full articleJuly 10, 2014
Major Identity Theft Ring Exposed
A major identity theft ring has been exposed after police received a tip about the possible theft of road signs that lead to further investigation. ...read full articleJuly 10, 2014
Woman Sentenced for Identity Theft
An Ohio resident has been sentenced to 14 years in prison after being convicted on 23 counts including aggravated identity theft. ...read full articleJuly 9, 2014
Multiple Arrests in Major Identity Theft Ring Bust
Nine individuals have been indicted on a total of 165 charges including identity theft, forgery, and racketeering. ...read full articleJuly 7, 2014
Two Charged with Identity Theft
A man and a woman have been charged after allegedly using a victim’s stolen personal information to try and open a credit line at a furniture store and a credit card at a hardware store. ...read full articleJuly 7, 2014
Protecting Yourself from Identity Theft
This article discusses various ways to safeguard yourself from identity theft, including newly offered “identity theft insurance” options. ...read full articleJuly 7, 2014
Medical Identity Theft Increasingly Common
This article discusses some tips from the AARP for protecting yourself from identity thieves. ...read full articleJuly 3, 2014
Identity Theft Prevention Tips
This article discusses ways to minimize your exposure to identity theft, monitor for signs of fraud, and manage the damage that results when you do become a victim of identity theft. ...read full articleJuly 3, 2014
Alabama Resident Pleads Guilty to Identity Theft
An Alabama man who is currently serving an 18-year sentence for aggravated identity theft and conspiracy to commit bank fraud and wire fraud has pleaded guilty to new charges. ...read full articleJuly 2, 2014
Woman Pleads Guilty to Identity Theft Charge
A Sacramento woman has pleaded guilty to two counts of mail fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft after she opened a Safe Credit Union account using the identity of a mail theft victim. ...read full articleJuly 1, 2014
Woman Indicted for Identity Theft Scheme Netting over $70,000
An Ohio resident has been charged with 33 counts of aggravated identity theft, wire fraud, and bank fraud after she allegedly stole the identities of 16 people and used the stolen information to file 18 fraudulent tax returns to illegitimately gain thousands in false refunds. ...read full articleJuly 1, 2014
Tennessee House Candidate Charged with Identity Theft
Candidate Kristopher Gore is facing charges after being accused of stealing the identity of Livingston Democratic Representative John Mark Windle. The indictment also charged Gore with theft, writing bad checks, and forgery. ...read full articleJune 30, 2014
Retired Air Force Senior Master Sergeant Charged with Identity Theft
A retired Air Force officer is facing wire fraud, bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft charges after he allegedly stole Government Travel Charge Cards from fellow service members and used them to make unauthorized purchases. ...read full articleJune 30, 2014
Tips for Avoiding Identity Theft during Summer Travel
This article provides tips from the Connecticut Better Business Bureau which help consumers prevent identity theft during summer vacation. ...read full articleApril 24, 2014
Doctors Targeted by Identity Thieves This Tax Season
Multiple members of a medical association in D.C. have reported being victimized by identity thieves filing fraudulent tax returns using stolen Social Security numbers and personal identifying information. ...read full articleApril 23, 2014
Proceeds of Identity Theft Scheme Allegedly Funneled to Nigeria
Funds appear to have flowed from the U.S. Treasury into accounts at as many as 100 institutions and then eventually overseas to Nigeria as a result of a massive stolen identity tax refund scheme which took place for nearly a decade. ...read full articleApril 23, 2014
Indictment Announced Following the Dismantling of Massive Identity Theft Scheme
A federal prosecutor in Pennsylvania has announced a 13-count indictment charging multiple individuals for alleged participation in a massive stolen identity ring. ...read full articleApril 18, 2014
Florida Legislature Considers Bill That Would Offer Children Identity Protection
There is a bill under consideration by the Florida Legislature which is modeled after the Maryland law that took effect in January of 2013 and would offer children identity protection. ...read full articleApril 15, 2014
Former Radio Host Charged With Identity Theft
A former Indiana radio host has been charged with identity theft after she allegedly used credit cards in the names of multiple family members at various businesses. ...read full articleApril 9, 2014
Rochester Art Gallery Owner Charged With Identity Theft
The owner of a Rochester art gallery has been charged with multiple counts of first-degree identity theft, among other charges, after he was accused of stealing more than $91,000 dollars using another man’s credit card and depositing those funds into his own bank account. ...read full articleApril 9, 2014
Teen Felon arrested, Charged with Identity Theft
California Highway Patrol officials have arrested and charged an 18 year-old after a vehicle search, subsequent to a traffic stop, yielded evidence of suspected identity theft along with a gun, methamphetamine and other allegedly stolen items. ...read full articleApril 7, 2014
Former IRS Employee Charged with Identity Theft
A former IRS employee who had plead guilty after trying to steal $1.7 million in false tax returns has been charged with a new count of identity theft just one week before sentencing. ...read full articleApril 3, 2014
U.S. Charges 25 Identity Theft Suspects in South Florida Sweep
Twenty-five individuals in Florida have been arrested and accused of using thousands of stolen identities to file false tax returns and fraudulently collect $36 million in illegitimate refunds. ...read full articleMarch 31, 2014
Three arrested, Two Sought for Identity Theft Scheme
Multiple individuals have been arrested after it was alleged that they conspired to steal credit card information from small business owners and then used the numbers to purchase thousands of dollars in goods and services. ...read full articleMarch 31, 2014
Victims Videotape Identity Theft Suspects
Home surveillance caught identity theft suspects in the act after victims decided to videotape their mailbox when they found evidence it had been tampered with. ...read full articleMarch 28, 2014
Three Charged With Identity Theft, Credit Card Theft
Three New Yorkers have been charged with identity theft, credit card theft, forgery and additional charges after consent was given to search a vehicle subsequent to a traffic stop. The search yielded fraudulent gift cards and other evidence. ...read full articleMarch 25, 2014
Ring Leader Sentenced to 22 Years for Identity Theft
The alleged ring leader of an identity fraud ring has been sentenced to 22 years in prison. The man was previously convicted of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, access device fraud, and aggravated identity theft. ...read full articleMarch 24, 2014
Identity Thief Steals Wallets from Restaurant
A woman has been arrested pursuant to warrants for identity theft and two counts of theft after she allegedly stole victim’s wallets and identification from their purses in the restaurant Panera Bread. ...read full articleMarch 23, 2014
Identity Thief Sentenced to Three Years
An identity thief has been sentenced to three years in prison and ordered to pay restitution after she used her position as a house painter to run an EBay scam, victimizing a woman who had hired her to paint her house. The thief learned her victim’s work schedule and stole mail that allowed her to illegitimately order packages and have them delivered to the victim’s house, where they could be picked up before they were noticed by the victim. ...read full articleMarch 19, 2014
Canadian Family Members Charged with Identity Theft
Five members of a Canadian family are facing a total of 114 fraud charges after being accused of stealing the personal identification information of victims from parked cars and then using that information to apply online for Home Depot credit. The credit was allegedly used to purchase gift cards from Home Depot stores and the gift cards were then resold online at discounted prices. ...read full articleMarch 18, 2014
Couple Arrested and Charged with Identity Theft
A husband and wife have been arrested following an investigation which revealed that the two had allegedly been running an identity theft scheme. A search warrant was executed, resulting in the discovery of lists of credit card numbers and card-making equipment among other evidence. ...read full articleMarch 13, 2014
Safeguarding Your Identity: Q&A
This article provides answers to frequently asked questions regarding monitoring your financial accounts and safeguarding your identity. ...read full articleMarch 11, 2014
Woman Charged With Identity Theft Accused of Stealing $20K from Banks
A woman has been charged with identity theft and scheme to defraud after allegedly using the names, dates of birth and social security numbers of victims to open bank accounts for depositing stolen checks. ...read full articleMarch 11, 2014
Last of 13 Defendants Sentenced in Federal Identity Theft Scheme
A total of thirteen defendants have been sentenced in a scheme to steal identities and file false tax returns and receive more than one million dollars in fraudulent tax refunds. ...read full articleMarch 10, 2014
Texas Man Sentenced to 5 Years for Organizing Stolen Identity Refund Fraud Scheme
A Texas man has been sentenced to five years in prison for organizing a scheme in which the identities of Puerto Ricans were stolen and used to file false tax returns to receive fraudulent tax refunds. ...read full articleMarch 5, 2014
Health Department Workers Steal Patient Personal Identifying Information
Three individuals have been sentenced for participating in a scheme in which the identities of approximately 2,200 patients were stolen by insiders and then provided to others who used the information to file fraudulent tax returns. ...read full articleMarch 4, 2014
Thieves Steal Identities to Order Expensive Verizon Phones
Police are investigating a scheme in which thieves are stealing neighborhood resident’s identities and using them to order expensive Verizon phones which are typically intercepted during delivery to the victim’s home. ...read full articleMarch 4, 2014
Los Angeles Woman Arrested for Identity Theft
A Los Angeles woman has been arrested following a nine-month investigation, during which authorities recovered thousands of pieces of evidence that suggest there may be hundreds of possible victims of the identity theft spree. ...read full articleMarch 1, 2014
Key Suspect in Identity Theft Ring Arrested
Special agents with U.S. Homeland Security Investigations have arrested an individual accused of playing a major role in a suspected identity theft ring. ...read full articleFebruary 28, 2014
Former Hospital Employee Indicted for Stolen Identity Refund Fraud Scheme
A former employee of the hospital at Fort Benning, Georgia has been charged with multiple counts of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft after allegedly using her access to the personal information of military personnel, which she was afforded through her position of employment, to file false tax returns and receive fraudulent refunds. ...read full articleFebruary 27, 2014
Identity Theft Tops List of Consumer Complaints
According to the Federal Trade Commission, the top complaint reported by U.S. consumers for 2013 was once again identity theft. ...read full articleFebruary 25, 2014
Colorado Springs Man Sentenced for Identity Theft, Tax Fraud
A Colorado Springs man has been sentenced to 84 months in federal prison, with 3 years post-release supervision, after he was found guilty of aggravated identity theft and filing a false claim with the IRS. ...read full articleFebruary 24, 2014
Attorney General Urges Congress to Set National Standard for Data Breach Notification
Attorney General Eric Holder is seeking the enactment of a national standard for data breach notification, which he believes would allow American citizens to better protect against identity theft when their personal information has been compromised in a data breach. ...read full articleFebruary 22, 2014
Woman May Serve Five Years for Identity Theft
A nineteen-year-old woman was charged with identity theft after she provided police with the name of a friend when she was pulled over for a traffic violation, causing a ticket to be issued in that friend’s name. ...read full articleFebruary 21, 2014
Man Sentenced to Five Years for Identity Theft
A Hampton resident has been sentenced to five years and one month in prison after pleading guilty to charges of theft of government money and aggravated identity theft in November. ...read full articleFebruary 21, 2014
Deceased Infant Found to Be Victim of Identity Theft
Parents of a deceased infant discovered that their son’s identity had been stolen and he had fraudulently been claimed as a dependent on a tax return filed by strangers just months after his passing. ...read full articleFebruary 18, 2014
Five Arrested in Kansas on Identity Theft Related Charges
Five individuals have been arrested in the Wichita area by the Kansas Department of Revenue’s Office of Special Investigation and charged for alleged crimes related to driver’s license fraud and identity card fraud. ...read full articleFebruary 18, 2014
Man Receives 15 Year Sentence for Identity Theft
The man responsible for an identity theft spree, in which he primarily obtained victim information by burglarizing cars and dumpster diving, has been sentenced to fifteen years in state prison after admitting he used the stolen information to open fraudulent lines of credit and create forged checks. ...read full articleFebruary 17, 2014
Identity Theft a Growing Problem for the IRS
An increasing number of identity theft related tax frauds are resulting in growing losses as many turn to filing false tax returns to obtain fraudulent returns. Thieves are increasing their efforts and some gangs and drugs dealers may even be transitioning their efforts from other criminal pursuits in the hopes of gaining perceived ‘easy access to money.’ ...read full articleFebruary 14, 2014
Baton Rouge Woman Sentenced for Identity Theft
A Baton Rouge woman has been sentenced to more than 5 years in federal prison and ordered to repay $491,000 to the Internal Revenue Service after she was previously convicted for a stolen identity tax refund scheme. The defendant pleaded guilty last year to aggravated identity theft and wire fraud after admitting to filing nearly 500 false tax returns. ...read full articleFebruary 12, 2014
Gang Associate Convicted of Multiple Identity Theft Charges
Andranik Aloyan has been convicted on multiple charges including four counts of aggravated identity theft, attempted bank fraud, and access device fraud resulting from his role in a racketeering conspiracy. Aloyan is a member of the Armenian Power gang and was among 90 individuals charged in two indictments related to the gang’s activities. ...read full articleFebruary 10, 2014
Two Charged With Identity Theft after Mail Theft Spree
Two St. Paul residents have been arrested and charged with identity theft. The pair stole mail from dozens of mailboxes around the metro and western Wisconsin area. Further investigation revealed that they had used some of the stolen credit cards and cashed some stolen checks that they obtained from the mailboxes. ...read full articleFebruary 10, 2014
More Identity Theft Warnings to Head This Tax Season
People are once again reminded of the dangers of identity theft and particularly stolen identity tax refund fraud during this tax season. ...read full articleFebruary 8, 2014
Traffic Stop Leads to Discover of Identity Theft Related Documents
Hundreds of pages of personal information were recovered from a vehicle when the driver was pulled over for traveling 111mph in a 65mph zone in Wyoming. Three suspects will face federal indictments for felony charges in connection with the discovery. ...read full articleFebruary 6, 2014
13 Charged With Tax Fraud, Identity Theft
Three recent indictments returned by federal grand juries in Los Angeles and Riverside counties have charged more than a dozen defendants for allegedly using stolen identities to file fraudulent tax returns falsely seeking millions of dollars in tax refunds. ...read full articleFebruary 3, 2014
Medical Identity Fraud Prevention Tips
Learn more about medical identity fraud and the importance of safeguarding your healthcare information. ...read full articleFebruary 2, 2014
Patient Palm Scanner Helps Hospital Prevent Identity Theft
The Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital is using a palm scanner to map the veins in a patient’s hand, which creates a unique identifier that can be connected with medical records to help cut down on identity theft. ...read full articleJanuary 31, 2014
Teen Sentenced for Celebrity Identity Theft
A Lake Mary teen has been sentenced to three and a half years in federal prison after pleading guilty to credit card fraud and aggravated identity theft in October. ...read full articleJanuary 28, 2014
Husband of Reality Television Star Charged With Identity Theft
Apollo Nida, husband of reality television star Phaedra Parks, has been arrested and charged with bank fraud and identity theft. ...read full articleJanuary 26, 2014
Massive Identity Theft Ring Discovered After Dispute over Cab Fare
A massive identity theft ring was found to be operating out of a Dallas hotel after one of the conspirators had a dispute with a cab driver. Authorities followed the man to his hotel room where they found piles of money and stolen Social Security numbers in plain view. ...read full articleJanuary 23, 2014
Florida Man to Serve Four Years for Identity Theft
A Florida man has been ordered to pay more than $400,000 in restitution and will serve more than four years in prison after he pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft and conspiracy to defraud the United States. ...read full articleJanuary 22, 2014
Restaurant Owner Arrested for Identity Theft
A restaurant owner has been charged after the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office conducted a workplace identity theft operation. The investigation was launched when the office received a tip regarding the hiring of individuals using false identification documents to gain employment. ...read full articleJanuary 22, 2014
Former State Employee Convicted of Identity Theft
A former state worker, previously employed by the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry, has been convicted after she accessed confidential information from her work computer. Authorities estimate the number of identities stolen could range from 350 to 500, with most of the identities being taken from the Public Employees Retirement Association of Minnesota (PERA). ...read full articleJanuary 20, 2014
Warning Signs that May Indicate Your Identity Has Been Compromised
Pay close attention to these seven potential warning signs that your personal information has been stolen and is being used. ...read full articleJanuary 17, 2014
Identity Theft Tips for Tax Season
Follow these tips to safeguard your identity from individuals looking to steal your information and use it to receive fraudulent tax refunds. ...read full articleJanuary 17, 2014
Three Indicted, One Sentenced for Identity Theft, Tax Fraud Scheme
Three individuals have been indicted for the alleged theft of identities to be used to defraud the U.S. government. A fourth individual has been sentenced to three years and one month in federal prison for another stolen identity, tax-refund fraud scheme. ...read full articleJanuary 15, 2014
Florida Leads the Nation in Identity Theft
According to the Federal Trade Commission, Florida has the highest identity theft rate in the nation. U.S. Attorney Wifredo Ferrer commented on the issue in a recent interview. ...read full articleJanuary 13, 2014
Protecting Your Identity This Tax Season
Keep these helpful tips in mind this tax season to ensure the safety of your identity. ...read full articleJanuary 13, 2014
Former Social Worker Pleads Guilty to Identity Theft
A former social worker illegally obtained personal information belonging to clients from her place of employment and sold it to two tax return preparers. ...read full articleJanuary 7, 2014
IRS Sees Large Increase in Identity Theft Prosecutions
According to the IRS an increasing number of thieves are stealing Social Security numbers to file false claims and receive fraudulent tax refunds. This is reflected in the number of IRS criminal investigations, prosecutions, and indictments which have all increased substantially. ...read full articleJanuary 7, 2014
Man Receives 13 Year Sentence for Identity Theft Scheme
The ringleader of an identity theft, mail theft and bank fraud scheme has been sentenced to 13 years and 5 months in federal prison. He and his co-conspirators stole mail from homes and business of more than 800 southern Oregon victims as part of the scheme. ...read full articleJanuary 6, 2014
Former Retirement Fund Worker Sentenced for Identity Theft
Tobin Lamar Lyon II, also known as Tobe Kasa, 27, of Charlotte, N.C. has been sentenced to six years in federal prison and ordered to pay $118,602 in restitution to victims after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. ...read full articleJanuary 6, 2014
Two Californians Arrested for Identity Theft
Heather Sage, 21 and James Abel, 31 were arrested by Nevada Highway Patrol and charged with multiple identity theft related crimes. Subsequent to a traffic stop and an indication by a K-9 unit that the vehicle contained drugs, a search of the vehicle was performed and a large number of credit cards, IDs and a credit card making machine and equipment were found. ...read full articleJanuary 4, 2014
Woman Charged With Identity Theft after Allegedly Using Stolen Credit Card
Ashley Moore, 26, has been charged with identity theft, among other charges, after she allegedly used a man’s stolen credit card and checks to make more than $15,000 worth of transactions. ...read full articleJanuary 3, 2014
Woman Charged for Participation in Identity Theft Scam
A Gainesville woman has been charged after she gave her bank account information to a man she met online and proceeds from an alleged identity theft scheme were deposited in the account. ...read full articleJanuary 2, 2014
New Identity Theft Law Seeks to Protect Children in Texas
Texas legislature has passed a new law which allows parents to place a ‘security freeze’ on the consumer and credit files of their children under the age of sixteen. ...read full article2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009