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News: Montana Woman Accused of ID Theft to be Sentenced Next Month

Esther Elizabeth Reed, will be sentenced on Feb 11 on charges of federal fraud and identity theft. She had pleaded guilty to these charges in August and faces up to 47 years in prison and $1 million in fines.

News: FBI Investigating Security Breach at University of Rochester

The FBI is currently investigating a security breach at the University of Rochester. According to the University IT staff, the illegal copy of data was done from an outside IP address. Personal information of 450 current and former students was reportedly stolen and copied to an off campus computer. The University has notified all the potential victims and is providing them with one year of credit monitoring and identity theft insurance. Read more

News: Impersonator Sentenced for Fraud and ID Theft

Mark Sams, 50, was sentenced to 3 1/2 years in federal prison on charges of fraud and identity theft. He was accused of impersonating Noel Haggard, the son of country music legend Merle Haggard. Sams was arrested in July 2007 and also chraged people to take pictures with him. Read more

News: Michigan Woman Sentenced in ID Theft

Lisa LeMieux, 40, pleaded guilty to charges of identity theft and was ordered to pay $10,000 in restitution to the victim. She was also sentenced two years of conditional discharge and 84 days in prison, which she has already completed. LeMieux and her husband Thomas LeMieux met the victim while on vacation and then stole his personal information to obtain $56,000 worth of credit, goods and services. Read more

News: Michigan Woman Sentenced in ID Theft

Lisa LeMieux, 40, pleaded guilty to charges of identity theft and was ordered to pay $10,000 in restitution to the victim. She was also sentenced two years of conditional discharge and 84 days in prison, which she has already completed. LeMieux and her husband Thomas LeMieux met the victim while on vacation and then stole his personal information to obtain $56,000 worth of credit, goods and services. Read more

President’s Identity Theft Task Force

Long thought by critics to be among the more meaningless, merely symbolic tasks associated with being the American President, Presidential Task Forces have evolved greatly over the years and now play an important role in a given administration.

License Plate Theft, Vehicle Identity Number

What does a license plate and identity theft have in common? Turns out, a lot. In these unstable times when fuel prices fluctuate more than ever and finances are getting tighter for people all across the nation, thieves haven’t slowed down on the most basic of crimes, including stealing license plates.

News: Identity Theft Prevention and Mitigation Program - The New York State

The New York State Consumer Protection Board has launched a new Identity Theft Prevention and Mitigation Program. The new program is designed to help residents of New York against Identity Theft. It makes available the resources and tools necessary to fight the crime and also help the victims overcome the consequences of id fraud. As part of the program's launch, the CPB has also created a quiz show video on their website to help consumers be proactive when dealing with identity theft. Read more

News: Woman Arrested for ID Theft and Forgery

Alma J. Robinson, 41, was arrested on charges of identity theft, misuse of credit cards and forgery. According to Detective Sgt. Carl Gulas, Robinson has been convicted of the same thing multiple times. She was held in the County Jail and the bail was set at $10,000. Read more

Preventing Identity Theft - 10 FREE Things You Can Do

In today’s virtually cashless world you may be more at risk than you have ever been before. But protecting yourself may be easier than you think.

Identity Theft - Glossary

Empowering yourself against identity theft and fraud begins with knowledge. The more you know about what risks are out there, the more you can take measures to prevent yourself from becoming a victim.

News: Woman Sentenced To Prison For Bank Fraud and Identity Theft

Christel Ebony Norwood, 32, was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison and ordered to pay more than $27,000 in restitution on charges of bank fraud and identity theft. She was accused of stealing names, social security numbers and birthdates of 49 people from two medical facilities for which she worked. She also bought a 2002 Mercedes-Benz Coupe by fraudulently obtaining a bank loan. Read more

News: Nine Arrested - ID Theft and False Identification Documents

The authorities arrested nine people in connection with identity theft and fake identification documents. Eight suspects were arrested at Engineered Air in De Soto, KS. Seven of them were booked on charges of ID theft and one on charges of dealing in False Identification Documents. One more arrest was made in Olathe and the suspect was booked on charges of Dealing in False Identification Documents. Read more

FTC: Identity Theft is the Fastest Growing Crime

There is no doubt that in a technology driven world, where personal information is easily accessible, identity theft is the fastest growing crime in America.

News: New Drivers Licenses in Nevada

The state of Nevada is now adopting the Central Issuance system to deliver new driver licenses. This system is already in use in 14 states and is considered a major step towards combating identity theft in Nevada. The new system uses facial recognition software that can compare new and existing photos in the database and alert the authorities in case there is a fraud.

News: Woman Sentenced To Prison For Identity Theft

Melanie A. Guilbeault, 38, was sentenced to prison on charges of identity theft. She was accused of obtaining a credit card after stealing personal information from an acquaintance and then using it to purchase items worth $5,900 over the internet. The police were able to recover some of the items after searching her apartment. Read more

News: Data Breaches in 2008

According to ITRC, 656 data breaches were documented in 2008 which is an increase of 47 percent as compared to 446 breaches in 2007. More than 35 million data records were compromised which shows difficulties and lack of appropriate measures to safeguard personal information. Improper handling of data by employees, hacking, computer theft, and accidental disclosure are some of the reasons for security breach mentioned in the report.

News: ID Theft Legislation - Judd Gregg and Dianne Feinstein

Judd Gregg (R-NH) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) are working together on a legislation to fight identity theft. The new bill will prohibit selling and displaying social security numbers without the owner's consent. The bill also requires all government agencies to take necessary steps to protect SSN's from being illegally accessed. Read more

News: Westlake Police Seek ID Theft Suspect

The Westlake police are seeking help in identifying a man accused of identity theft and using fake AAA Visa traveler's checks to purchase retail goods. According to the investigators, the suspect is 6 feet, 205 pounds and uses the name Damian E. Dalcour. He was also seen using a Texas driver's license with a Fort Worth address. Read more

News: Woman Stole Grandparents Identity

Ashley R. Barrick, 21, pleaded guilty to charges of identity theft. Barrick stole the identity of her Lower Frankford Twp. grandparents and used it to make purchases worth $47,000. She has also pleaded guilty to drunken driving and two other theft cases. Read more

News: Savannah-Chatham Police Seek Credt Card Thief

The Savannah-Chatham police are in search of a man suspected of breaking into parked vehicles and stealing credit cards. The man who was also caught on the surveillance video shows him using stolen credit cards to purchase prepaid credit cards at a local pharmacy. The investigators are seeking the unidentified man on charges of burglary, credit fraud and several other felony counts. Read more

News: Twitter Hit By Phishing Scam

Social networking website Twitter has been recently hit by phishing and spam attacks. Thousands of users have reported receiving messages asking them to click on a link which takes them to a page that steals their login information. Cyber criminals are increasingly using phishing schemes to compromise user accounts and use them for spam, id theft and other online crimes. Read more

Elderly Vulnerable to ID Thieves

When it comes to the topic of ID theft, you'd think the elderly are the safest. After all, why would anyone want to steal from your grandmother, a simple lady with very little assets, no job and not even a bank account?...

News: FTC Out to Stop Identity Theft - Jan 2,09

A couple of weeks ago, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) released a report recommending five ways to help prevent identity theft and the misuse of Social Security numbers.

News: Indiana Man Steals Relative’s ID to Buy Jeep - Jan 2, 09

An Indiana man was arrested Thursday night on charges he had used a family member's personal identification information to buy a Jeep Cherokee and to charge thousands of dollars in other goods and services.

News: Five Chicago-area Residents Face ID Fraud Charges - Jan 2, 09

In April 2007, five Chicago-area residents were charged wutg conspiracy to commit credit card fraud and identity theft. Hundreds of faulty transactions were made from fake credit card numbers and totaled thousands of dollars in unauthorized purchases.

News: New Britain Woman Charged with ID Theft - Jan 1, 09

A 22-year old mother in New Britain faces charges of identity theft and larceny. Ashley Rodriguez used a credit credit belonging to a woman in Middletown to make $241 worth of purchases, including gas and pizza. Rodriguez will appear in Superior Court on January 13.

News: Hollis Police Seeking a Female in an ID Theft Investigation

The Hollis Police Department is looking for a female suspect who is believed to have used a credit card that was opened in somebody else's name. The suspect used the credit card at 10 different locations and charged more than $500 worth of merchandise. The surveillance video obtained by the investigators shows a white female with dark hair and glasses using the stolen card to purchase a gift card. Read more

News: New Credit Freeze Law in Indiana

Effective January 1, residents of Indiana can phone or e-mail credit reporting agencies and request them to put a credit freeze on their account. The new law is designed to make it easier for people to protect themselves against ID theft. Previously, it was more complicated and residents were required to send a certified letter to each of the credit reporting agencies. Read more

News: Completion of President’s Identity Theft Task Force Plan Announced

Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales and FTC Chairman Deborah Platt Majoras announced the completion of the President's Identity Theft Task Force strategic plan to help fight id theft. The plan focuses on improving data protection measures adopted by public and private sector to safeguard consumer information, provide detailed and effective guidance to businesses and consumers and also improve the effectiveness of criminal prosecutions. The President's Identity Theft Task Force now comprises 17 federal agencies and departments, including the SEC. Read more

News: Rapper DMX involved with ID Theft

You may not know who Earl Simmons is, but you may have heard of popular rapper DMX. On December 30, 2008, DHX has cut a deal in a string of crimes including animal cruelty, drug possession, and even identity theft. It was only during the Summer that DMX attempted to avoid paying a $7,500 hospital bill by providing a false name and contact information

News: Lake Tahoe Police Seek Help in ID Theft Case

The South Lake Tahoe Police Department is looking for a suspect involved in stealing credit cards and using them to make purchases at retail stores. The police had described the suspect as a white male, 35-45 years old, medium build, with a very short haircut. He was last seen driving a mid to late 90s silver four-door sedan. Read more

News: Counterfeiter Faces ID Theft Trial

Aldo Persichilli, 38, was arrested in a Wilbraham motel room on charges of counterfeiting $100 bills. He also has two prior convictions for running phony cash scams and using fake bills in several Southern states. According to his wife Elizabeth Botelho, Persichilli and Ryan Craig routinely made fake $100 bills by bleaching $1 bills and used them in large chain stores. She also said that Persichilli had discussed changing his identity by using false documents. Persichilli is scheduled to go to trial on Jan 20th. His wife Botelho has pleaded guilty to one count of counterfeiting and is expected to testify at trial. Read more

News: Health Center Employees Arrested for ID Theft

Linda McDermott-Dorsey and Lisa Kidd, employees of western Ohio health center, were indicted on charges of ID theft and money laundering. The women used the hospital computer system to gather personal information of dead patients and used it to apply for online loans. The health center started the investigation when they were contacted by a loan company. Read more

News: IRS Deals With Identity Theft

The IRS recently set up a specialized unit to deal with cases of identity theft and advises people to take necessary preventive steps. The IRS says it never sends e-mails to consumers and clicking any e-mail links that look like from IRS could lead to id theft. The IRS also has a special office called the Taxpayer Advocate Service which can help people who have problems with the IRS. Read more

News: Fresno ID Theft Ring Busted

Jesus Ledesma, the leader of a Fresno ID theft ring, pleaded no contest to 150 felony counts and was sentenced to 15 years and eight months in prison. Gilbert Chavez, Linda Arreola and Juan Hernandez were also arrested in connection with identity theft. According to the police, the suspects made phone calls posing as bank officials and used the stolen information to open credit card accounts. Read more

ID Fraud in Small Towns

When you hear the words "identity theft," big cities like New York, San Francisco, and Los Angeles immediately spring to mind. It's hard to imagine the crime entering the sphere of a smaller town, where everybody knows one another. Though media statistics will mainly point to large, bustling cities as being frequent targets of identity theft, there's also a growing number of cases in smaller cities all across the US.

Cyberstalking Can Lead to ID Theft

The internet mirrors real life in more ways than one, particularly in relation to crime. And stalking is no exception. In the real world, statistics point to more men stalking women but in cyberspace, anyone and everyone no matter what the gender or age, becomes a target.

News: Two Sacramento Women Arrested for ID Theft, Check Fraud

Earlene Turks, 41 and Delia Soto, 42 were arrested on charges of id theft, burglary and using fraudulent checks. Both women are accused of using stolen checks and credit cards to make purchases worth over $2600. The detectives were able to track the women when they found that one of the checks was used to purchase a burglar alarm permit in Sacramento County. Read more

News: Three Arrested for ID Theft, Counterfeiting

Binh Quoc Du, 25, Lynette Gaddi, 35, and Pedro Daniel Guaman, 33 were arrested on charges of forgery, counterfeiting, possession of stolen property, grand theft and unlawfully obtaining personal information. After searching the home shared by Gaddi and Guaman, the investigators found evidence of an extended id theft operation and stolen goods belonging to more than 30 people. All three are currently in custody and the bail is set at $500,000 each. Read more

News: Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Employee Arrested for ID Theft

James Allen Wilson, 44, a former employee of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles was charged with identity theft and insurance fraud. Hospital officials said that he had access to billing records but was not allowed to take any information home. According to investigators, Wilson allegedly stole the personal information of more than 1000 patients and used it to make fake insurance claims that netted him at least $69,000. His bail is currently set at $895,000.

News: Alien Pleads Guilty to Identity Theft

Edwin Bobea, a citizen of the Dominican Republic has pleaded guilty to identity theft and falsely claiming a social security number that did not belong to him. Bobea is currently facing a mandatory two year prison sentence. His sentence hearing is scheduled on March 31. Read more

Security Breaches Tied to Job Losses

America faces currently its most significant economic downturn since The Great Depression nearly a century ago. The Federal Reserve is using methods, conventional and unconventional, to flood the market with money in the hopes that people and companies alike will spend, and therefore revive, our lethargic economy.

News: Three Arrested on Charges of ID Theft

The authorities arrested three Russian immigrants in connection with identity theft. The suspects moved to Alpharetta from Los Angeles and were under investigation for a period of two months.

News: U.S. Marshals Seek Help in Locating an ID Theft Criminal

U.S. Marshals are seeking Davis A. DeCesare, 44, a fugitive who is currently wanted in Linndale and Cuyohoga County on charges of id fraud, forgery, car theft and tampering with records. He is 6'3" and weighs 210 pounds. DeCesare has a history of criminal activity and violent offenses. Anyone helping to locate DeCesare will be rewarded. Read more

ID Theft Criminals & How They Were Caught

Along with crimes such as espionage, kidnapping and terrorism, identity theft has joined the list of some of the world's most serious crimes. The crime has become so prevalent and costly for the U.S. that the government has passed laws that constitute it as a federal offense punishable by law.

Celeb ID Theft Cases

You may know of identity theft victims among your family, friends and neighbors, but celebrities? Surely their fame and status would make them immune to such crimes. Though they may seem like unlikely targets, the fact that their lives are so open to the public and their back accounts are impressive makes them just as big of a target as anyone else.

News: Ringgold Man Arrested for Identity Theft

Michael Anthony Navarre, 41, was arrested on charges of stealing personal information of another person. Navarre used the stolen identity to open a credit account with Oreck Corporation and then bought a vacuum cleaner worth $779.85. He was booked into the Bossier Maximum Security Facility with bond pending. Read more

News: Charlotte ID Theft Ring Busted

Authorities announced indictments against nine suspects who belong to an organized identity theft ring and were involved in car break-ins. Garnett Coulbourne, Laquasha Blakeney, Latoya Moore, Loretta Blakeney-Herron, Latoya Blakeney, Lajarika Blakeney, Terrell Zardee, Shontavia Barber and Gabriel Neal have been charged with id theft and wire fraud conspiracy. According to investigators, the suspects forged checks and used them to purchase retail merchandise. Read more

News: Symantec Launched New Security Software for Mac & PC

Symantec Corp. has announced the launch of Norton Internet Security 4 for Mac. The new security software suite contains latest firewalls, antivirus protection and other tools to combat intrusion and identity theft. Symantec has also made available Norton Internet Security for Mac Dual Protection, which is a comprehensive solution for users who have both Mac and Windows operating systems. Both products are available for purchase online and in retail stores. Read more

News: Pinal County Employee Arrested on Charges of ID Theft

Albert Robbs, 51, an employee of Pinal County was arrested on charges of identity theft. Robbs is accused of using his access to public records to the steal the personal information of a resident. He has been transferred to the Pinal County Adult Detention Center and his bail is currently set at $25,000. Read more

Password Protection, Biometrics, Technology

The usage of passwords to protect against privacy infringements and identity theft is virtually universal. Using one to log into an e-mail account, bank account, social networking site, even your computer itself, is common. While some password users stick to tried, true and predictable favorites, such as “1234” or “password,” others go through great pains to construct some that are long, incorporate both letters as well as numbers and are hard to guess.

Identity Theft Punishment and Penalties, Federal and State Laws

With more than 10 million victims per year in the U.S. alone, identity theft is considered one of the most serious crimes in the country. It's a crime that not only targets your finances, but your financial reputation. Years of built-up credit can be wiped away in a matter of hours, and it can take years to rebuild.

News: Data Breach at New Hampshire’s Department of Health and Human Services

New Hampshire's Department of Health and Human Services is notifying 9,300 people of a data breach when they mistakenly released their personal information about Medicare. The department is making sure that no such information is used illegally and has urged people to take appropriate prevention steps. The document containing names, addresses, SSN's, monthly premium and Medicare part D plan details was mistakenly attached to an e-mail which was then sent to providers and health care organizations. Read more

News: Printing Company Employee Sentenced to Prison for ID Theft

Jessica Sue Hoover, 25, was sentenced to a year in jail and three years in probation on charges of embezzlement and identity theft. She stole $76,000 from Gowans Printing Co. where she worked as an office manager. The Judge accepted the plea agreement and she is also required to pay restitution and court fee. While working as an office manager, Hoover wrote checks to herself, paid personal bills using company's ATM card and stole personal information of 10 other people associated with the business. Read more

News: Authorities Arrest Brooklyn Cross Dresser for ID Theft

Jacon Allen, 33, a cross-dressing man from Brooklyn was arrested on charges of identity theft and stealing personal information of 25 people to get credit cards and cash advances. Allen purchased goods and services worth $260,000 using fake credit accounts and money obtained from cash advances. Allen also used female names like "Erica Evans" and "Saaniya St. Claire" to steal identities. Read more.

News: Wilmington Woman and Her Accomplice Arrested for ID Fraud

Marki Bell of Wilmington was arrested on charges of using stolen IDs to purchase retail goods and gift cards worth $9,000. Her accomplice also used fake information to fraudulently obtain credit cards and bought merchandise at Sears store in the Concord Mall. Both were arrested after the store employees got suspicious and called the police. Read more

News: Identity Theft in a Car Dealership

Dayton Diaz, 26, General Sales Manager of Acura dealership, pleaded guilty to selling the personal information of 75 customers to identity theft ring for $9,000. He allegedly recorded the SSN's, addresses and birth dates of customers and gave that information to Fitzroy Carter and his group, who then obtained credit from HSBC Bank. Members of that ID theft group then purchased HP computers worth $137,000. Since the incident, Diaz has been fired from the job.

News: West Frankfort Woman in Custody for Credit Fraud

Suzanne M. Mandrell, 34, of West Frankfort, was accused of credit fraud and identity theft. Mandrell illegally stole the personal information of the victim and used it to get credit cards. She then charged in excess of $35,000 on them. Charges against Mandrell were filed on November 17 and she turned herself in on December 5 after a warrant was issued for her arrest. Read more

News: ID Theft Ring Busted in Inland Empire

Michael Otubuah, 30, was arrested and sentenced to 20 years in prison on charges of identity theft. Two other co-conspirators - Evelyn Grace Ahrens and Charis Detress Green were also involved in the crime and fraudulently obtained credit cards, purchased retail merchandise and received cash advances totaling more than $100,000. Both Ahrens and Green accepted plea bargains offered by the prosecutors. Ahrens was sentenced to four years in jail and Green is awaiting sentencing.

News: Former Federal Employee Charged With ID Theft

William Sinclair, 27, of Southeast Washington and a former employee of the Library of Congress was charged with identity theft and wire fraud. While working at the human resources department, Sinclair allegedly stole identities of federal workers and used their personal information to purchase goods worth thousands of dollars. He also passed the stolen information to his second cousin Labiska Gibbs, 35, who fraudulently opened credit accounts at several retail stores. Read more

Gift Card Fraud, & ID Theft in the Holiday Season

There's always so much going on during the holidays. Everyone's rushing around getting last minute gifts, finalizing travel plans and making charitable donations. 'Tis the season for giving, but for some, it's also the season for taking.

News: Romanian Citizen Arrested for ID Theft

Gabriel Cirlan, 32, a Romanian citizen was arrested by authorities at a Memphis hotel on charges related to identity theft. They also found a fake faceplate for an ATM, video camera and electronic devices for changing the magnetic code on bank cards. Cirlan is facing 27 years in prison. Read more

Enterprise Identity Management

According to P-synch.com, Enterprise Identity Management can be defined as a combination of business processes and technologies used to manage data on IT systems and applications about users. Managed data include user objects, identity attributes, security privileges and authentication factors.

News: Eurasian Gang in Vegas Involved in ID Theft, Narcotics

The authorities recently uncovered an organized Eurasian gang of 15 operating in Las Vegas and responsible for $1.5 million in stolen money from credit cards and identity theft. Seven other people were also charged for crimes involving ID fraud, narcotics and weapons violations. According the U.S. attorney, the suspects were involved in "skimming" and had people working in businesses such as restaurants, bars and smoke shops who would fraudulently obtain credit card numbers using counterfeit devices. Read more

News: Two Arrested in W. Va for ID Theft

Bryan William Hoffman, 19, from Ohio and Teddy Dean Davis, 24, from Oklahoma pleaded guilty to identity theft, mail fraud and using the stolen information to obtain credit cards. According to prosecutors Davis and Hoffman stole mail from residents of Tennessee, West Virginia, Arkansas and Kentucky and then checked into a motel in Beckley. After the search, the authorities found stolen mail and a computer.

News: Authorities Bust ID Theft Ring in Vegas

Federal authorities in Las Vegas arrested 13 people in connection with credit fraud and identity theft. According to officials, people who were arrested are also believed to have Eastern European ties. The investigation started when stolen ID's, and fake credit and debit cards were used at various casinos and businesses. The total money involved in the theft amounts to $1.5 million. Read more

News: Park Rangers Make ID Theft Arrest

Aaron L. Bruton, 27, was arrested by state park rangers in a store while he was using a stolen credit card. He was charged with ID theft, forgery, impersonation, resisting arrest, burglary and unlawful use of credit card. His bail is currently set at $110,000. Bruton is believed to be involved in a car break-in and then stealing credit cards and other valuables. Rangers with the help of video surveillance system were able to track Bruton in a Best Buy store where he bought an $800 gift card. He is also under investigation by state and county police in Pennsylvania and Delaware. Read more

News: ID Theft Virus Hits Facebook

A virus named Koobface has been found on Facebook which is a hugely popular social networking website on the internet. The virus is believed to spread to different computers through messages sent between friends and searches the machine for passwords, credit card numbers and other personal information. The stolen information is then used by hackers to assume identities of other people and cause financial damage. Read more

News: Teen Arrested for ID Theft

Rachelle Moyer, 19, is accused of using someone else's identity to open 15 credit card accounts. The police arrested Moyer at her home and also recovered $4500 of merchandise that she had illegally bought. The stolen merchandise includes $3000 worth of diamond jewelry. Read more

Ebay Fraud

One man's trash is another man's treasure. This is essentially the philosophy of eBay, and which is why it's become one of the most successful companies in the world. What's not to love, with its amazing breadth of offerings from cars and furniture to antiques and electronics, most at bargain prices? It also boasts a friendly website and more than 200 million users worldwide, and the number is growing.

News: ID Theft in a Restaurant Leads to Prison Sentence

The Pierce County Jury convicted Dexter Lamar Petrie Jr., 21, to four years and six months in prison for his role in an identity theft scheme. Petrie worked with his girlfriend Erica Jane David and stole credit card information from customers of the Indochine restaurant where she was employed as a waitress. David, who is also 21, will be sentenced next month and is currently facing two years and five months in prison. Petrie allegedly provided David with an electronic device to skim credit card numbers from patrons of the restaurant. Read more

News: Former FEMA Employee Sent to Prison for ID Theft

Robert W. Davis, 44, of Southeast Washington and a former employee of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) pleaded guilty to charges of id theft and wire fraud. He was sentenced to more than five years in prison. Davis was accused of stealing identities of disaster victims and used their personal information to get lines of credit and retail merchandise. According to the Assistant U.S. Attorney, he also opened fraudulent accounts and bought jewelry, diamond watches and digital cameras. Read more

Jury Duty and Identity Theft

Let's face it, we've all done it. A jury duty summons arrives in the mail and you either ignore the notice or immediately try to come up with an excuse to get out of it. Usually, you end up begrudgingly attending and sometimes you get lucky and you're excused.

News: Couple Uncovers ID Theft in an Auction

A couple from Barrow County found evidence of an ID theft operation when they placed a winning bid on four boxes in an auction at a storage business. According to Sgt. Edmisten, the boxes had several IDs, credit cards, driver's licenses, checkbooks and tax returns. The police worked on tracking down the owner of the storage unit but no suspects have been named yet. The investigators have also requested help from the US Secret Service.

News: Woman in Mississippi Arrested for ID Theft

Pamela Loizzo, 58 of Morgantown, Miss., was arrested on charges of stealing her employer's identity. She is accused of fraudulently obtaining credit cards in victim's name and then using them to buy goods and other services. She was taken to Marion County Jail and her bond was set at $80,000.

Identity Theft - Facebook and MySpace

You create a profile, share photos with friends, make new friends and swap messages. It's all fun and games -- until somebody gets their identity stolen. Millions of people who are on popular networking websites such as Facebook and MySpace are at risk and don't even know it.

News: Woman Sentenced for ID Theft

Denise Ramirez, a former loan officer is accused of defrauding her friend, Evanthia Pappas, out of $90,000 and has been sentenced to one year in jail and five years probation. The Judge also ordered Ramirez who has pleaded guilty, to divulge all illegal transactions made by her. Failure to comply could result an extension of prison time upto three years and eight months.

News: Fresno Police Arrested Two People for ID Theft

The Police in Fresno has arrested Shelly Shleton, 42 and Frank Lucero, 40 in connection with an identity theft operation. Both Shelton and Lucero are currently in Fresno County Jail. The officers also searched an apartment and found computer gear, printers and drivers license numbers of potential victims.

Prevent Identity Theft Online

Every few seconds, there's a victim of identity theft in the US. And if that wasn't enough to alarm you, it's also the fastest growing crime in the entire country. That's why you can truly never be too careful, especially online, where a majority of the crime takes place. These are things you should already be doing so you don't become a victim. If not, it's time to adopt some of these preventative measures now.

News: ID Theft Charges Against Councilman Reduced

The judge reduced charges against Elizabeth City, N.C., Councilman Rickey King to a misdemeanor. This could also allow him to retain his seat. King was earlier sentenced to one year in jail for identity theft which was later suspended if he remains on good behavior for three years. The prosecution however has objected to the reduction of the charges and will seek to reactivate other felony charges in the next status hearing.

News: 2 Charged in Connection With ID Theft

Courtney Green Fugate, 32 and Jack Avery Harrell II, 27 were arrested in connection with criminal activity in northeast Jackson County. Both are residents of Hurley. Fugate was charged with vehicle burglary, id theft and credit fraud while Harrell was arrested in connection to a methamphetamine lab. The police is also seeking James Syre who is also believed to be involved in vehicle burglary and credit card fraud.

News: Obama’s Cell Phone Record Breached

According to Obama's transition team, records of a cell phone previously owned by Presidet-elect Barack Obama were breached. Spokesman Robert Gibbs said that an employee of the company (Verizon Wireless) improperly looked into the billing records for the phone which is not currently used by Obama. The e-mail by the company's President and CEO Lowell McAdam, mentions that the phone in question has been inactive for several months and none of Obama's e-mail were accessed. Read more

Healthcare Fraud

Priorities change during a recession. People tend to go out less, eat at home more, and make do without all the material luxuries they're used to. In the grander picture, this isn't a terrible result. But on the darker side, there's usually a rise in negative attitudes, unemployment and of course, crime. And identity theft is no exception.

Id Theft - Cost of Restoring Your Lost Identity

When your identity is stolen, the costs that are associated with clearing your name can be overwhelming both in terms of money and stress. Clearing your name can take months, and in some cases, even years. As if that wasn't stressful enough, consulting legal advice to quickly correct your situation may even take toll on your wallet.

Mail Theft and Holiday Season

The holidays are officially here. You can tell, not only because Halloween has come and gone, but also because a tidal wave of catalogs spills out when you open your mailbox. Catalogs, holiday cards and the regular junk mail can dramatically increase the volume of mail you receive, providing thieves with a greater opportunity to steal your identity.

News: Gov. Sarah Palin’s E-mail Hack Trial Delayed

The trial of David Kernell, a 20 year old college student from Univ. of Tennessee and accused of hacking into Gov. Palin's Yahoo e-mail has been delayed until May 2009. David is also the son of Rep. Mike Kernell who is a Democrat. Kernell's lawyers have argued that the case should be considered a misdemeanor and not a felony. Kernell is currently facing upto five years in prison and $250,000 fine. Read more.

News: AARP and Google Offer Identity Theft Tips

In order to help consumers protect themselves from online identity theft, AARP and Google have teamed up to create 6 videos. According to AARP, identity theft is a major concern for people over 50 who want to have more control of their finances. Some of the topics that are covered in these videos include firewalls, phishing scams, privacy control and secure passwords. Users can watch these videos at AARP website or Google Privacy Channel on YouTube. Read more

News: Houston Postal Worker Involved in Mail Theft

Rodney Ervin, a Houston postal worker is facing prison sentence next year on charges of mail fraud and identity theft. Federal investigators were able to identify Ervin on security videos using stolen credit cards. Ervin is currently free on bond and is facing a maximum of five year term for mail theft, two years for id theft and ten years for unauthorized use of access device.

News: State Department Warns of ID Fraud

The State Department has notified 383 people of possible identity theft resulting from a security breach in its records system. Nearly 400 passport applications containing personal information like social security numbers may have been accessed and vulnerable to credit and identity fraud. The investigation will continue and those who were contacted have been offered free ID monitoring for a year. Read more.

News: Inmate Pleads Guilty to Holocaust ID Theft Plan

John Kenneth Leighnor Jr., an inmate at the Federal Correctional Institute in Petersburg has pleaded guilty to mail fraud and identity theft. The scheme involved cashing in money from the bank accounts that belonged to Holocaust victims. Prosecutors say that he used obituaries and dormant Swiss bank accounts to locate the victims. Read more

News: Supreme Court to Decide Identity Theft Laws Against Illegal Immigrants

The Supreme Court will decide whether ID theft laws apply to illegal immigrants. If yes, then it will allow the government to send illegal aliens to prison or force them to leave the United States. In the past, some courts have ruled that the prosecutors must prove that the person knew he was using a real social security number to get employment. Read more

News: President’s Identity Theft Task Force Issues Report

Attorney General Mukasey and FTC Chairman Kovacic released a report on progress made by the President's Identity Theft Task Force. The strategic plan was released by the Task Force in April 2007 and outlined 31 recommendations that the federal govt. should adopt to combat identity theft. The Task Force is co-chaired by the Attorney General and the FTC Chairman, and now has 17 federal agencies and departments working together to help prevent ID theft.

News: Supreme Court Takes on ID Theft Case

Federal prosecutors are pressing charges on undocumented workers who were arrested for stealing social security numbers to get employment in US. However, the defense lawyers are arguing that their clients should not be charged because these illegal aliens were seeking identities only to work and were not aware of the numbers being fictitious. Read more

ACORN Voter Registration Fraud & ID Theft

Because some ACORN staffers are unable to meet their quotas and face penalties like smaller paychecks or losing their jobs altogether, there has been an influx of falsified voter registration forms being filed by desperate employees.

News: ACORN Registers Dead & Children to Vote

O'jahnae Smith is ready and registered to vote this November. There's only one problem: She's 7 years old.

News: Married ID Thieves Meet in Jail

When identity theft suspect Christina Herrera was arrested, she didn't have to wait long to tell her husband. He was in the next holding cell.

News: Sarah Palin’s Hacker Indicted

A Tennessee man has been indicted for hacking into the e-mail account of Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin. David Kernell, 20, was charged with illegally accessing Palin's Yahoo! account "by researching and correctly answering a series of personal security questions," according to an indictment filed in U.S. District Court in Knoxville.

Protecting Your Family From ID Theft

Can you picture your two-year-old with a mortgage or your grandfather who’s been dead for five years with stamps from a recent trip to Italy in his passport? Those things may sound impossible, but they happen every day. In the world of identity theft nothing is as it appears, and with rules like that anything is possible.

News: UK to Make Death Records Public, Combat ID Theft

The Government has taken new steps to combat identity fraud and will henceforth be releasing details of all people who have died in the UK to credit rating agencies and other vetted organisations.