Federal authorities have arrested 14 people -- 10 of them from Montgomery -- accused of stealing funds intended for victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
U.S. Attorney Leura Canary announced Friday that several of the 14 have been detained while awaiting trial, and that some have already pleaded guilty to the charges.
"Each of these 14 defendants are charged with consciously setting out to steal money intended for victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita," Canary said in a news release. "Many of them compounded the offense by stealing others' identities to commit the crime. In total, our office has charged 51 defendants based upon Katrina and Rita fraud. We are committed to bringing these offenders to justice."
The defendants from Montgomery:
# Terrance Harris, 21, is charged with stealing more than $13,000 in Federal Emergency Management Agency funds intended for Katrina victims. The indictment alleges Harris accepted and cashed at least six checks that he was not entitled to. Arrested April 19, he remains in jail pending his June 23 trial. Harris is considered a flight risk and was not eligible for bond.
# Andrew D'Angelo Garrett, 23, is charged with eight counts of theft of Katrina-designated funds totaling more than $23,400. The indictment alleges Garrett and others filed four FEMA claims alleging residential damages in Harvey and New Orleans, La., even though Garrett lived in Montgomery. He remains on bond pending his June 23 trial.
# Tammy Holloway, 39, is charged with two counts of theft and one count of aggravated identity theft for filing two claims for Katrina disaster assistance. The indictment alleges Holloway used false identities to forge applications to FEMA that led to her receipt of $4,000 in U.S. Treasury checks. Her trial is set for Aug. 18.
# Thelma Elaine Foster, 42, and Isaphene Foster Riley, 57, are charged with theft and aggravated identity theft by filing an application for Katrina assistance in Riley's name with a false Social Security number. The indictment alleges they cashed a $2,000 check from FEMA, knowing they were not entitled to the money.
# Paul Graham, 27, pleaded guilty May 1 to improperly receiving and cashing checks from FEMA in excess of $8,000. Graham admitted that he allowed others to file fraudulent claims on his behalf in his name, and that he then cashed the disaster assistance checks that were made out to him. Graham also pleaded guilty to non-FEMA-related narcotics and drug charges. He remains in federal custody pending sentencing July 22, when he faces up to 40 years in prison for the FEMA charges alone.
# Michael Hood, 23, pleaded guilty April 28 to one count of theft of government property or money. Hood admitted to cashing a $2,000 check intended for Katrina victims. He faces up to 10 years in prison and will be sentenced Aug. 7.
# Dan Lee Johnson, 61, Della May Jones, 36, and Mack Murrell, 67, pleaded guilty to one count each of theft of government property. Each admitted to cashing a $2,000 FEMA check in the aftermath of Katrina, knowing they were not entitled to the money. Sentencing for Jones and Murrell is scheduled for Friday. Johnson's sentencing is scheduled for July 11. Each faces up to 10 years in prison.
According to statistics kept by the Department of Justice's Hurricane Katrina Fraud Task Force, the U.S. attorney's office for the Middle District of Alabama has charged the highest number of defendants in Alabama with Katrina fraud. Nationwide, the office is seventh in the number of total indictments. The Middle District also has obtained the longest sentence for Hurricane Katrina or Rita fraud.
Anyone with information concerning possible fraud being committed during the post-Katrina recovery effort is urged to call the Inspector General Fraud Hotline toll-free at 866-720-5721.
source
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Monday, July 28, 2008
New front in war on ID theft
WHITE PLAINS - Most identity-theft cases involve someone using stolen information to purchase products, usually by credit card, and then keeping or selling the merchandise.
In what appears to be a new twist on the problem, a case unfolding in White Plains involves a Mount Vernon man suspected of using someone else's bank information to set himself up in business as a self-described "debt consolidator."
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James "Hollywood" Allen Jr., 47, is accused of using an 88-year-old White Plains woman's checking account to pay utility bills for "customers" who gave him 50 cents on the dollar for every debt he settled, police said. Allen paid the bills by telephone, it is alleged, because he was not required to prove he was authorized to draw money from the woman's account.
"This is not one of your more common ID-theft cases, but the bottom line is always the same," said Lt. Eric Fischer, commander of the White Plains police Detective Division. "You have to be vigilant about your financial information. If you notice anything suspicious, report it immediately. We can't stress that enough."
From May to November 2007, Allen is alleged to have paid between $250,000 and $300,000 worth of cable TV, utility, insurance and credit card bills, using the woman's checking account. In one instance, it is alleged, Allen received $3,000 for paying off a woman's $6,000 credit-card debt.
The scheme came to light in November, when the victim's daughter called police after discovering that dozens of electronic fund transfers had been made on her mother's North Fork Bank checking account. In an investigation that took weeks, White Plains police Detective Brian Connolly got subpoenas for each debt that was paid and began tracking down the account holders. In each case, the account holder identified Allen as the man who paid their bills.
Allen and 23 of his "customers" have been arrested. Allen is charged with counts of first-degree identity theft and second-degree grand larceny, both felonies. The others are all charged with identity theft or grand larceny or both. All are due in White Plains City Court on May 21.
Police are still trying to determine how the victim's account information was obtained.
"I'm not sure what we can do to prevent identity theft of this kind," said Assemblyman Richard Brodsky, D-Greenburgh, a member of the Assembly's Banking Committee. "You could require people to enter a PIN number when they pay bills by phone, but those numbers will get stolen, too. Identity theft is a complex problem, and we're very interested in finding ways to prevent it."
source
In what appears to be a new twist on the problem, a case unfolding in White Plains involves a Mount Vernon man suspected of using someone else's bank information to set himself up in business as a self-described "debt consolidator."
Advertisement
James "Hollywood" Allen Jr., 47, is accused of using an 88-year-old White Plains woman's checking account to pay utility bills for "customers" who gave him 50 cents on the dollar for every debt he settled, police said. Allen paid the bills by telephone, it is alleged, because he was not required to prove he was authorized to draw money from the woman's account.
"This is not one of your more common ID-theft cases, but the bottom line is always the same," said Lt. Eric Fischer, commander of the White Plains police Detective Division. "You have to be vigilant about your financial information. If you notice anything suspicious, report it immediately. We can't stress that enough."
From May to November 2007, Allen is alleged to have paid between $250,000 and $300,000 worth of cable TV, utility, insurance and credit card bills, using the woman's checking account. In one instance, it is alleged, Allen received $3,000 for paying off a woman's $6,000 credit-card debt.
The scheme came to light in November, when the victim's daughter called police after discovering that dozens of electronic fund transfers had been made on her mother's North Fork Bank checking account. In an investigation that took weeks, White Plains police Detective Brian Connolly got subpoenas for each debt that was paid and began tracking down the account holders. In each case, the account holder identified Allen as the man who paid their bills.
Allen and 23 of his "customers" have been arrested. Allen is charged with counts of first-degree identity theft and second-degree grand larceny, both felonies. The others are all charged with identity theft or grand larceny or both. All are due in White Plains City Court on May 21.
Police are still trying to determine how the victim's account information was obtained.
"I'm not sure what we can do to prevent identity theft of this kind," said Assemblyman Richard Brodsky, D-Greenburgh, a member of the Assembly's Banking Committee. "You could require people to enter a PIN number when they pay bills by phone, but those numbers will get stolen, too. Identity theft is a complex problem, and we're very interested in finding ways to prevent it."
source
Thursday, July 24, 2008
3 Kansas men charged in identity theft plot
Items to be sold on Internet were bought on stolen credit, police allege
By Justin Fenton | Sun reporter
May 3, 2008
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Federal authorities and police in two Baltimore-area counties are investigating what is believed to be an interstate identity-theft scheme that was foiled this week at a Glen Burnie department store.
Three Kansas residents were charged with multiple counts of theft in Anne Arundel County yesterday as authorities worked to determine the extent of the alleged scheme, which police said involved using others' identities to establish credit cards and buy items to sell on the Internet.
According to charging documents, employees became suspicious as the men - one wearing a suit and tie - shopped for expensive items at the Boscov's store at Marley Station Mall. Fraud investigators for the store checked the men's information and determined that they were using the identities of Alabama residents, who were contacted and said that they had not opened store credit accounts.
Confronted with the information, one of the men, Charles Ingram, fled from the customer pickup area, and an "intense" struggle ensued with four store detectives, police said.
A white rental van found in that area contained a large number of boxes covered with a tarp. Inside, detectives found more than $7,600 in tools purchased from Home Depot stores in Anne Arundel and Baltimore counties.
The two other Kansas men, Valdaze McDaniel and Bryan Gatlin, were arrested in the store without incident, police said.
Police said Ingram had purchased about $2,120 worth of products in the store's home area, including a television and a GPS unit, and that McDaniel and Gatlin had together bought $2,930 worth of jewelry. The men were carrying a combined $6,400 in cash, which was seized as evidence, police said.
The men are suspected of offering for sale on the Internet items that they did not own and, once an order was placed and money had been sent, using false credit accounts to purchase the items. Detectives recovered paperwork that included shipping receipts, order confirmations, shopping lists and hotel reservations.
McDaniel and Gatlin were charged with multiple counts of fraud, making false statements, forgery, and theft. In addition to theft-related charges, Ingram was charged with five counts of second-degree assault and one count of resisting arrest.
Baltimore County police spokesman Bill Toohey said detectives were reviewing an inventory of the recovered items to determine whether there was a link to crimes there.
The FBI's field office in Baltimore also was contacted, and possible federal charges are being explored, according to charging documents.
source
By Justin Fenton | Sun reporter
May 3, 2008
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Federal authorities and police in two Baltimore-area counties are investigating what is believed to be an interstate identity-theft scheme that was foiled this week at a Glen Burnie department store.
Three Kansas residents were charged with multiple counts of theft in Anne Arundel County yesterday as authorities worked to determine the extent of the alleged scheme, which police said involved using others' identities to establish credit cards and buy items to sell on the Internet.
According to charging documents, employees became suspicious as the men - one wearing a suit and tie - shopped for expensive items at the Boscov's store at Marley Station Mall. Fraud investigators for the store checked the men's information and determined that they were using the identities of Alabama residents, who were contacted and said that they had not opened store credit accounts.
Confronted with the information, one of the men, Charles Ingram, fled from the customer pickup area, and an "intense" struggle ensued with four store detectives, police said.
A white rental van found in that area contained a large number of boxes covered with a tarp. Inside, detectives found more than $7,600 in tools purchased from Home Depot stores in Anne Arundel and Baltimore counties.
The two other Kansas men, Valdaze McDaniel and Bryan Gatlin, were arrested in the store without incident, police said.
Police said Ingram had purchased about $2,120 worth of products in the store's home area, including a television and a GPS unit, and that McDaniel and Gatlin had together bought $2,930 worth of jewelry. The men were carrying a combined $6,400 in cash, which was seized as evidence, police said.
The men are suspected of offering for sale on the Internet items that they did not own and, once an order was placed and money had been sent, using false credit accounts to purchase the items. Detectives recovered paperwork that included shipping receipts, order confirmations, shopping lists and hotel reservations.
McDaniel and Gatlin were charged with multiple counts of fraud, making false statements, forgery, and theft. In addition to theft-related charges, Ingram was charged with five counts of second-degree assault and one count of resisting arrest.
Baltimore County police spokesman Bill Toohey said detectives were reviewing an inventory of the recovered items to determine whether there was a link to crimes there.
The FBI's field office in Baltimore also was contacted, and possible federal charges are being explored, according to charging documents.
source
Monday, July 21, 2008
Identity theft victim recalls night in jail
Michael Baird arrested on warrant for man who stole his ID.
y TOM QUIGLEY
The Express-Times
FLEMINGTON | Michael Henry Baird can now add a new item to the list of outrageous incidents he's endured since the 2005 theft of his identity -- his first time in jail.
The Upper Mount Bethel Township resident said he's also looking for a good lawyer.
A Florida arrest warrant for a man who used Baird's identity led to the 29-year-old Baird's arrest by a Clinton Township police officer Monday.
"I explained to the officer on the scene what happened to me with the identity theft," Baird said. "Several more officers were called for backup."
He said the arresting officer checked and found the warrant.
The officer "asked me to step out of the vehicle, put my hands on the back of the truck and spread my legs."
Police then frisked him, transported him to headquarters and to the Hunterdon County Jail.
Corrections officers took his money, handcuffed him to a bench and left him there for about 30 minutes during a shift change.
Baird -- owner of a welding business -- said he then spoke to an intake officer.
After that, "I was escorted to a small closet by a corrections officer and told to strip."
hen, dressed in a jumpsuit and slippers, he received a bag with two blankets and a plastic spork.
"They took me to D Block," he said. "I pretty much went straight to my cell, No. 93. It was late and I was afraid of mixing with the other inmates so I figured I should just go and hide out."
Baird said he couldn't sleep in part because he didn't have a mattress.
"I felt like it was one of those bad dreams, like being in an insane asylum," he said.
A sergeant at the jail spent most of the day Tuesday checking out Baird's story, fielding phone call after phone call.
Hunterdon County Corrections Administrator Scott Nodes finally made the decision Baird was free to go. He was then released from the jail at 5 p.m. and sat outside waiting for his father to arrive.
A check with the Volusia County Sheriff's Office in Florida on Wednesday afternoon showed the warrant for Baird's arrest remains active.
"They're the rudest people we've ever dealt with," Baird said of the Volusia sheriff's office. Authorities have already amended arrest warrants in Georgia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, New York and California after learning of the identity theft.
But Baird remains charged by the Daytona Beach Police Department with forgery.
Georgia authorities have charged Sean Vincent Zarate, a Northampton County native and former friend of Baird's, with stealing Baird's identity.
source
y TOM QUIGLEY
The Express-Times
FLEMINGTON | Michael Henry Baird can now add a new item to the list of outrageous incidents he's endured since the 2005 theft of his identity -- his first time in jail.
The Upper Mount Bethel Township resident said he's also looking for a good lawyer.
A Florida arrest warrant for a man who used Baird's identity led to the 29-year-old Baird's arrest by a Clinton Township police officer Monday.
"I explained to the officer on the scene what happened to me with the identity theft," Baird said. "Several more officers were called for backup."
He said the arresting officer checked and found the warrant.
The officer "asked me to step out of the vehicle, put my hands on the back of the truck and spread my legs."
Police then frisked him, transported him to headquarters and to the Hunterdon County Jail.
Corrections officers took his money, handcuffed him to a bench and left him there for about 30 minutes during a shift change.
Baird -- owner of a welding business -- said he then spoke to an intake officer.
After that, "I was escorted to a small closet by a corrections officer and told to strip."
hen, dressed in a jumpsuit and slippers, he received a bag with two blankets and a plastic spork.
"They took me to D Block," he said. "I pretty much went straight to my cell, No. 93. It was late and I was afraid of mixing with the other inmates so I figured I should just go and hide out."
Baird said he couldn't sleep in part because he didn't have a mattress.
"I felt like it was one of those bad dreams, like being in an insane asylum," he said.
A sergeant at the jail spent most of the day Tuesday checking out Baird's story, fielding phone call after phone call.
Hunterdon County Corrections Administrator Scott Nodes finally made the decision Baird was free to go. He was then released from the jail at 5 p.m. and sat outside waiting for his father to arrive.
A check with the Volusia County Sheriff's Office in Florida on Wednesday afternoon showed the warrant for Baird's arrest remains active.
"They're the rudest people we've ever dealt with," Baird said of the Volusia sheriff's office. Authorities have already amended arrest warrants in Georgia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, New York and California after learning of the identity theft.
But Baird remains charged by the Daytona Beach Police Department with forgery.
Georgia authorities have charged Sean Vincent Zarate, a Northampton County native and former friend of Baird's, with stealing Baird's identity.
source
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Philly man sentenced in New York on federal identity theft charges
ALBANY, NY – Federal, New York and Town of Colonie Police Department officials Wednesday announced that Nelson Slaughter, 43, of Philadelphia, was sentenced in US District Court in Albany on five felony counts.
The convictions related to an identity theft scheme perpetrated by Slaughter and others from the Philadelphia area that has victimized elderly women through the United States, including several from the upstate New York region.
He was was sentenced for one count of mail fraud, one count of identification document fraud, one count of mailing a threatening communication, and two counts of aggravated identity theft.
Judge Sharpe sentenced Slaughter to concurrent terms of imprisonment of 51months for the mail and identification document fraud counts and for the charge of mailing a threatening communication. A term of 24 months was imposed for each of the aggravated identity theft charges, to be served concurrently to each other, but consecutive to the other counts. In total, he will serve 75 months in prison.
The convictions related to an identity theft scheme perpetrated by Slaughter and others from the Philadelphia area that has victimized elderly women through the United States, including several from the upstate New York region.
He was was sentenced for one count of mail fraud, one count of identification document fraud, one count of mailing a threatening communication, and two counts of aggravated identity theft.
Judge Sharpe sentenced Slaughter to concurrent terms of imprisonment of 51months for the mail and identification document fraud counts and for the charge of mailing a threatening communication. A term of 24 months was imposed for each of the aggravated identity theft charges, to be served concurrently to each other, but consecutive to the other counts. In total, he will serve 75 months in prison.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Former Pittsburgh Teacher Accused Of eBay Fraud, Identity Theft
Jason Joy Faces State Charges; Feds Also Investigating
PITTSBURGH -- "He is probably the biggest fraudster I have seen. I've never seen anybody like him," said Pennsylvania state trooper Thomas Broadwater of Jason Joy.
Broadwater said Joy, of Uniontown, is accused of stealing the identities of family members and a former student.
Broadwater said, "He was using their debit cards to pay for the fees for selling stuff and they got their statements and saw these charges to eBay or PayPal and they were like,`I didn't do this'."
Joy was once Erin Plavecsky's math professor at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh. He no longer works there.
Plavecsky says she tried to buy something on eBay and found her PayPal account was frozen.
Plavecsky said, "When I called PayPal to find out why, they told me that there was another account with my name on it and that account was frozen because it was negative $300."
She also said, "He opened up an account on PayPal and was selling stuff in my name."
Plavecsky was getting calls from people because the goods they ordered from the account in her name weren't being delivered.
Investigators said the items ordered included rare coins and Rolex watches.
Kerry Joy is Jason Joy's ex-wife and an alleged victim.
She said, "It was a very big surprise to me. I've had many people call me at home and harassing me in the middle of the night asking where their stuff is from eBay."
According to a criminal complaint, a U.S. postal inspector has been investigating Joy for about a year for eBay fraud complaints from at least 100 victims throughout the United States.
Broadwater said, "Items were either bid on and not paid for or sold and never sent."
State police in Uniontown used computer forensics to track Joy to various e-mail addresses.
Broadwater said, "I was having actual real-time conversations with him through e-mails ."
The trooper was also able to pinpoint a library computer in central Pennsylvania that Joy was using.
Broadwater said, "He was found to be actually using that e-mail address when he said he never did."
Police knew he was using the computer because they had someone physically go to the library and look at him while he was online .
When Target 11 investigator karen Welles confronted Joy and asked if he stole anyone's identity, Joy refused to answer her.
Joy's attorney also refused to answer questions about the case.
Joy finds out June 25 if he'll be ordered to stand trial on identity theft charges.
Officials also expect a federal indictment against him as well.
source
PITTSBURGH -- "He is probably the biggest fraudster I have seen. I've never seen anybody like him," said Pennsylvania state trooper Thomas Broadwater of Jason Joy.
Broadwater said Joy, of Uniontown, is accused of stealing the identities of family members and a former student.
Broadwater said, "He was using their debit cards to pay for the fees for selling stuff and they got their statements and saw these charges to eBay or PayPal and they were like,`I didn't do this'."
Joy was once Erin Plavecsky's math professor at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh. He no longer works there.
Plavecsky says she tried to buy something on eBay and found her PayPal account was frozen.
Plavecsky said, "When I called PayPal to find out why, they told me that there was another account with my name on it and that account was frozen because it was negative $300."
She also said, "He opened up an account on PayPal and was selling stuff in my name."
Plavecsky was getting calls from people because the goods they ordered from the account in her name weren't being delivered.
Investigators said the items ordered included rare coins and Rolex watches.
Kerry Joy is Jason Joy's ex-wife and an alleged victim.
She said, "It was a very big surprise to me. I've had many people call me at home and harassing me in the middle of the night asking where their stuff is from eBay."
According to a criminal complaint, a U.S. postal inspector has been investigating Joy for about a year for eBay fraud complaints from at least 100 victims throughout the United States.
Broadwater said, "Items were either bid on and not paid for or sold and never sent."
State police in Uniontown used computer forensics to track Joy to various e-mail addresses.
Broadwater said, "I was having actual real-time conversations with him through e-mails ."
The trooper was also able to pinpoint a library computer in central Pennsylvania that Joy was using.
Broadwater said, "He was found to be actually using that e-mail address when he said he never did."
Police knew he was using the computer because they had someone physically go to the library and look at him while he was online .
When Target 11 investigator karen Welles confronted Joy and asked if he stole anyone's identity, Joy refused to answer her.
Joy's attorney also refused to answer questions about the case.
Joy finds out June 25 if he'll be ordered to stand trial on identity theft charges.
Officials also expect a federal indictment against him as well.
source
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Sheriff says identity theft ring broken up, suspect shot
Authorities say they broke up an identity theft ring Wednesday, but only after a violent struggle in a downtown Omaha hotel hallway in which a suspect was shot in the chest and a sheriff's deputy was hit over the head with a vase.
Jason Galle, 32, of Omaha was taken to Creighton University Medical Center in critical condition from the gunshot wound. Douglas County Sheriff's Deputy Mike Smith suffered about a 4-inch gash in the back of his head and also was taken to Creighton.
Smith was treated and released. Douglas County Sheriff Tim Dunning said Galle is expected to recover.
The incident unfolded as if from a movie script. According to Dunning:
Deputies Smith and Brenda Wheeler went to the Courtyard by Marriott, 10th and Dodge Streets, about 10 a.m. Wednesday after employees become suspicious of a couple who had checked in using what appeared to be a stolen credit card.
Smith, who has been with the Sheriff's Office 10 years, and Wheeler, a 16-year-veteran, headed to Room 416, where the couple were staying. As the two deputies left the elevator and headed down the hallway, they saw Galle and a 23-year-old pregnant woman coming out of the room.
Galle was carrying a rolled-up pair of blue jeans under his arm, and the woman was holding a black satchel.
Galle tried to hurry past the deputies and into the elevator, when Smith tried to stop him. As Galle pushed the deputy back, the jeans fell from his arm, and a .22-caliber pistol tumbled out.
The two men began to struggle while Wheeler took control of the woman, fearing that she, too, could be carrying a gun.
Smith then got one of Galle's wrists handcuffed, but Galle grabbed a heavy glass vase and smashed Smith across the back of the head.
Dunning said that by that time, the deputy was "fighting for his life'' and unholstered his Smith & Wesson 9 mm revolver.
Smith fired once, striking Galle in the chest.
Galle fell to the floor and curled up, bleeding so much that early reports indicated that he had been shot twice, once in the chest and once in the leg.
Smith was bleeding from the back of the head.
Deputies learned that Galle and the woman were headed to a room on the eighth floor where two other men were staying.
Additional deputies arrived at the hotel. Authorities headed to the eighth floor, where they found two men in a room with a copy machine and other instruments used for making false identification, Dunning said.
"I'm really having a good feeling that this will lead to the closing of an identity theft ring,'' he said.
Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine said his office would review reports from the Sheriff's Office when the investigation is completed and decide what charges are appropriate.
The incident had its genesis in a Sunday morning church service at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church, near 153rd and Pacific Streets.
A woman left her purse in her car while she attended Mass. Someone broke into the car and stole the purse, which contained cash, identification and credit cards.
Because the church is outside Omaha's city limits, the Douglas County Sheriff's Office, not the Omaha Police Department, responded to the call and handled the investigation.
Wednesday, Galle and the woman arrived at the hotel and checked in using one of the credit cards. Hotel employees became suspicious of the two, so they called the name listed on the card. A person answered the phone and confirmed that the people staying at the hotel were not authorized to use the card.
That's when hotel employees called authorities. Marriott officials have declined to comment.
source
Jason Galle, 32, of Omaha was taken to Creighton University Medical Center in critical condition from the gunshot wound. Douglas County Sheriff's Deputy Mike Smith suffered about a 4-inch gash in the back of his head and also was taken to Creighton.
Smith was treated and released. Douglas County Sheriff Tim Dunning said Galle is expected to recover.
The incident unfolded as if from a movie script. According to Dunning:
Deputies Smith and Brenda Wheeler went to the Courtyard by Marriott, 10th and Dodge Streets, about 10 a.m. Wednesday after employees become suspicious of a couple who had checked in using what appeared to be a stolen credit card.
Smith, who has been with the Sheriff's Office 10 years, and Wheeler, a 16-year-veteran, headed to Room 416, where the couple were staying. As the two deputies left the elevator and headed down the hallway, they saw Galle and a 23-year-old pregnant woman coming out of the room.
Galle was carrying a rolled-up pair of blue jeans under his arm, and the woman was holding a black satchel.
Galle tried to hurry past the deputies and into the elevator, when Smith tried to stop him. As Galle pushed the deputy back, the jeans fell from his arm, and a .22-caliber pistol tumbled out.
The two men began to struggle while Wheeler took control of the woman, fearing that she, too, could be carrying a gun.
Smith then got one of Galle's wrists handcuffed, but Galle grabbed a heavy glass vase and smashed Smith across the back of the head.
Dunning said that by that time, the deputy was "fighting for his life'' and unholstered his Smith & Wesson 9 mm revolver.
Smith fired once, striking Galle in the chest.
Galle fell to the floor and curled up, bleeding so much that early reports indicated that he had been shot twice, once in the chest and once in the leg.
Smith was bleeding from the back of the head.
Deputies learned that Galle and the woman were headed to a room on the eighth floor where two other men were staying.
Additional deputies arrived at the hotel. Authorities headed to the eighth floor, where they found two men in a room with a copy machine and other instruments used for making false identification, Dunning said.
"I'm really having a good feeling that this will lead to the closing of an identity theft ring,'' he said.
Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine said his office would review reports from the Sheriff's Office when the investigation is completed and decide what charges are appropriate.
The incident had its genesis in a Sunday morning church service at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church, near 153rd and Pacific Streets.
A woman left her purse in her car while she attended Mass. Someone broke into the car and stole the purse, which contained cash, identification and credit cards.
Because the church is outside Omaha's city limits, the Douglas County Sheriff's Office, not the Omaha Police Department, responded to the call and handled the investigation.
Wednesday, Galle and the woman arrived at the hotel and checked in using one of the credit cards. Hotel employees became suspicious of the two, so they called the name listed on the card. A person answered the phone and confirmed that the people staying at the hotel were not authorized to use the card.
That's when hotel employees called authorities. Marriott officials have declined to comment.
source
Monday, July 7, 2008
1,376 SAIC investors are at risk of ID theft Bank cannot find six backup tapes
y Paul M. Krawzak
U-T WASHINGTON BUREAU
May 7, 2008
WASHINGTON – More than 1,300 SAIC stockholders are at risk of identity theft after a box of magnetic backup tapes went missing in New Jersey earlier this year.
The tapes owned by Bank of New York Mellon, which acts as stock transfer agent for SAIC, contained names, addresses, Social Security numbers, stock account information, transaction activity and possibly bank account numbers for 1,376 current or former shareholders, said the San Diego company also known as Science Applications International Corp.
Mellon said yesterday that it has no evidence that the information has been misused. The bank said the tapes have not been found more than two months after they were lost.
The loss was discovered Feb. 27, when a vendor working for Mellon reported that a metal box containing six magnetic tapes of backup data for stock transactions was missing in transit to a storage facility in Jersey City.
“We have been monitoring the affected accounts and reviewing reports from the credit monitoring service,” Mellon said in a statement. “We have no evidence suggesting that any of the data has been inappropriately accessed or used.”
Linda Foley, founder of Identity Theft Resource Center, a nonprofit organization in San Diego, expressed concern about the loss of information.
“Social Security numbers are the Holy Grail of identity theft,” Foley said, because they can be used to assume another person's identity.
She said it's “hard to judge the seriousness” of the incident because it's unknown whether the tapes were lost or stolen. It would be more serious if they were stolen.
Mellon declined to say how many companies or shareholders were affected.
Laura Luke, a spokeswoman for SAIC, said the tapes included information from a “very long list of clients” of Mellon in addition to those of SAIC.
The number of shareholders affected is at least in the thousands. In Maryland, 4,690 shareholders from unidentified companies were affected, according to a March 20 letter to the Maryland attorney general from a Mellon attorney. Maryland law requires the state to be notified when an information security breach affects state residents.
SAIC said its shareholders whose personal data was on the tapes should have been notified by Mellon, which began sending out letters March 21. The bank is offering 12 months of free credit monitoring to those affected, and personal assistance from a fraud resolution representative in case of identify theft.
SAIC shareholders who have questions can call a toll-free number established by Mellon at (877) 277-8001.
According to a statement on its Web site, SAIC said it had no plans to replace Mellon because the bank was “uniquely situated to support our current needs related to a dual class of securities in which one class is publicly traded and the other is not.”
SAIC has experienced its own security breaches. In July 2007, the company reported that a computerized database containing personal data on military personnel might have been compromised. Two years earlier, several desktop computers containing personal information were stolen in a burglary.
source
U-T WASHINGTON BUREAU
May 7, 2008
WASHINGTON – More than 1,300 SAIC stockholders are at risk of identity theft after a box of magnetic backup tapes went missing in New Jersey earlier this year.
The tapes owned by Bank of New York Mellon, which acts as stock transfer agent for SAIC, contained names, addresses, Social Security numbers, stock account information, transaction activity and possibly bank account numbers for 1,376 current or former shareholders, said the San Diego company also known as Science Applications International Corp.
Mellon said yesterday that it has no evidence that the information has been misused. The bank said the tapes have not been found more than two months after they were lost.
The loss was discovered Feb. 27, when a vendor working for Mellon reported that a metal box containing six magnetic tapes of backup data for stock transactions was missing in transit to a storage facility in Jersey City.
“We have been monitoring the affected accounts and reviewing reports from the credit monitoring service,” Mellon said in a statement. “We have no evidence suggesting that any of the data has been inappropriately accessed or used.”
Linda Foley, founder of Identity Theft Resource Center, a nonprofit organization in San Diego, expressed concern about the loss of information.
“Social Security numbers are the Holy Grail of identity theft,” Foley said, because they can be used to assume another person's identity.
She said it's “hard to judge the seriousness” of the incident because it's unknown whether the tapes were lost or stolen. It would be more serious if they were stolen.
Mellon declined to say how many companies or shareholders were affected.
Laura Luke, a spokeswoman for SAIC, said the tapes included information from a “very long list of clients” of Mellon in addition to those of SAIC.
The number of shareholders affected is at least in the thousands. In Maryland, 4,690 shareholders from unidentified companies were affected, according to a March 20 letter to the Maryland attorney general from a Mellon attorney. Maryland law requires the state to be notified when an information security breach affects state residents.
SAIC said its shareholders whose personal data was on the tapes should have been notified by Mellon, which began sending out letters March 21. The bank is offering 12 months of free credit monitoring to those affected, and personal assistance from a fraud resolution representative in case of identify theft.
SAIC shareholders who have questions can call a toll-free number established by Mellon at (877) 277-8001.
According to a statement on its Web site, SAIC said it had no plans to replace Mellon because the bank was “uniquely situated to support our current needs related to a dual class of securities in which one class is publicly traded and the other is not.”
SAIC has experienced its own security breaches. In July 2007, the company reported that a computerized database containing personal data on military personnel might have been compromised. Two years earlier, several desktop computers containing personal information were stolen in a burglary.
source
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Possible Identity Theft Ring Probed
The investigation into Wednesday's shooting at the downtown Courtyard by Marriott Omaha indicates the four people arrested may have been part of an identity theft ring.
investigators seized methamphetamine, syringes, a laptop and a copier, 15-20 credit cards, ATM cards, school IDs, Social Security cards and hair dye from the suspects' two rooms.
Jason Galle and Dana McCoy had just checked into the hotel and investigators think they were planning on staying awhile. “It sounds like they have the beginning of a sophisticated identity theft ring,” says Jaimee Napp, head of Nebraska's Identity Theft Council.
She can't help but think how the alert hotel clerk who questioned the use of the Marriott Rewards card contacted the owner and then police and how the quick-thinking deputies checking out the stolen card call prevented big-time financial pain for others.
"Our information's worth about $20 on the street. So when they smash and grab, they're trying to find as much as they can, steal the mail right out of your mailbox and bring it all to one location and add it up. This is how much you get and then they trade it."
The top two on this week's Council Bluffs Most Wanted are Jason Galle and Dana McCoy, both wanted for theft.
Five years ago, when Bellevue Police recovered a stolen car, they found Jason Galle's paperwork inside, furlough documents from an Iowa prison so he could go to his mother's funeral in South Dakota. When investigators checked with the prison, Galle never returned and was a fugitive.
Galle, McCoy and their two associates face theft, drug and gun charges.
source
investigators seized methamphetamine, syringes, a laptop and a copier, 15-20 credit cards, ATM cards, school IDs, Social Security cards and hair dye from the suspects' two rooms.
Jason Galle and Dana McCoy had just checked into the hotel and investigators think they were planning on staying awhile. “It sounds like they have the beginning of a sophisticated identity theft ring,” says Jaimee Napp, head of Nebraska's Identity Theft Council.
She can't help but think how the alert hotel clerk who questioned the use of the Marriott Rewards card contacted the owner and then police and how the quick-thinking deputies checking out the stolen card call prevented big-time financial pain for others.
"Our information's worth about $20 on the street. So when they smash and grab, they're trying to find as much as they can, steal the mail right out of your mailbox and bring it all to one location and add it up. This is how much you get and then they trade it."
The top two on this week's Council Bluffs Most Wanted are Jason Galle and Dana McCoy, both wanted for theft.
Five years ago, when Bellevue Police recovered a stolen car, they found Jason Galle's paperwork inside, furlough documents from an Iowa prison so he could go to his mother's funeral in South Dakota. When investigators checked with the prison, Galle never returned and was a fugitive.
Galle, McCoy and their two associates face theft, drug and gun charges.
source
Monday, June 30, 2008
Popular Blackjack and Poker Game Sites on Alert for Identity Theft
LONDON, May 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Online companies are now on high alert after the recent identity theft case where Fouad Mourtada was sentenced to three years in jail by the Moroccan government for opening a false Facebook profile in the name of the Moroccan Prince, Moulay Rachid. Recently, BackgammonMasters Mexico found several users in their systems that opened accounts with names of famous persons such as Prince William, Madonna and Tom Cruise. After checking the activities and locations of these users they found them to be fake.
Spokesperson for http://www.backgammonmasters.com says, "We've seen a trend in the industry for people to register popular names, as we call them "Gold usernames" such as backgammonking, pokerking, blackjack-king and celebrity names which are just as popular. We see people in game forums even buying and selling these usernames. For these people its status, kind of like having a custom license plate. As long as the games are for fun, we are not concerned."
Although these players only played in fun money games such as Poker, Backgammon and 21 Blackjack, companies now are keeping an eye on these types of accounts after such an extreme case involving a major company like Facebook.
Some governments on the other hand seem to be concerned and do not take lightly insults to their leaders. Mourtada was released after serving 43 days of his term due to pressure from petition signers and Human Rights groups around the world. But this case has raised awareness that in some cases, a username is no longer just a username. Mourtada's lawyer, Ali Ammar said, "This is a cultural problem; this is the first time that a Moroccan poses as a very important personality on the internet. This is already a common practice in European countries."
source
Spokesperson for http://www.backgammonmasters.com says, "We've seen a trend in the industry for people to register popular names, as we call them "Gold usernames" such as backgammonking, pokerking, blackjack-king and celebrity names which are just as popular. We see people in game forums even buying and selling these usernames. For these people its status, kind of like having a custom license plate. As long as the games are for fun, we are not concerned."
Although these players only played in fun money games such as Poker, Backgammon and 21 Blackjack, companies now are keeping an eye on these types of accounts after such an extreme case involving a major company like Facebook.
Some governments on the other hand seem to be concerned and do not take lightly insults to their leaders. Mourtada was released after serving 43 days of his term due to pressure from petition signers and Human Rights groups around the world. But this case has raised awareness that in some cases, a username is no longer just a username. Mourtada's lawyer, Ali Ammar said, "This is a cultural problem; this is the first time that a Moroccan poses as a very important personality on the internet. This is already a common practice in European countries."
source
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Ohio Mutual Insurance Group Policyholders Receive Identity Theft 911(R) ''Life Stages'' Enhancements
- Media: Padilla Speer Beardsley Tony Berlin, 212-752-8338 tberlin@psbpr.com Ohio Mutual Insurance Group has announced recently an enhancement to its identity management program, providing additional services to help protect its policyholders from the growing threat of identity theft. The extended offering represents a significant expansion of their relationship with Identity Theft 911, a leading provider of identity theft
management, education, and resolution services.
According to the Federal Trade Commission, identity theft victimizes nine million Americans each year. In the past 12 months, Ohio officials reported a data breach exposing more than one million taxpayers, workers, companies and government agencies. The compromise was caused by the theft of a computer back-up tape containing hundreds of thousands of Social Security numbers from the car of a state intern.
"Identity theft is a traumatic, personal event that brings fear and uncertainty to its victims," said Michael Brogan, Vice President of Claims at Ohio Mutual Insurance Group. "There are certain events in life that expose individuals to a greater risk of becoming victimized. Expanding our relationship with Identity Theft 911 to include its 'Life Stages' services in our existing program will help our policyholders during these vulnerable times."
Identity Management Service Enhancements
To better protect its homeowner and farmowner policyholders from identity theft, Ohio Mutual is now offering proactive identity management services at no additional cost:
-- Child Risk Identity Assistance -- Proactive credit file suppression to help prevent the misuse of a minor's personal information -- a growing crime that can go undetected for years.
-- Identity Relocation Assistance -- Safeguards financial, credit, and identity data during a move, ensuring uninterrupted access to financial institutions and accounts, and any needed documentation.
-- Military Identity Assistance -- A 12-month Active Duty Military Fraud Alert is placed on the service member's credit file, reducing the risk of identity theft.
-- Proactive Fraud Alerts -- Where risk of identity theft is detected, a fraud alert is placed on the files maintained by the three major credit bureaus. The alert notifies potential credit grantors to check with the at-risk policyholder before extending new credit. In addition, this service will assist the policyholder to opt out of most marketing lists.
Policyholders who become victims have unrestricted access to a fraud specialist who will work one-on-one to resolve the crisis and restore their identity. As a part of the "Life Stages" program, policyholders will now also receive the following resolution services:
-- Estate Identity Assistance -- Helps safeguard the identity of a deceased from potential misuse by identity thieves. This includes minimizing potential risks to the surviving spouse's own identity in the case of joint credit files and financial documents.
-- Disaster Recovery Assistance -- Helps ensure uninterrupted access to financial institutions and accounts in the midst of a disaster such as a home fire, flood, hurricane, or earthquake. Quickly recaptures destroyed documentation needed to rebuild the policyholders' lives.
-- Medical Identity Assistance -- A fraud specialist is assigned to help undo the damage from fraudulently filed insurance claims or unauthorized charges for medical services.
In addition to these services, all policyholders have access to Identity Theft 911's proactive educational material, including daily Threat Alerts, investigative articles, monthly newsletters, white papers and more, through a dedicated website: www.omig.com and click the Identity Theft 911 link on the home page.
About Ohio Mutual Insurance Group
Ohio Mutual Insurance Group provides insurance protection for farm, auto, home, family, and business policyholders. With over 105 years of insurance protection experience, Ohio Mutual Insurance Group is represented by over 300 of the finest Independent Insurance Agents in Ohio, Rhode Island, Kansas and Nebraska. For more information, please visit our website at www.omig.com.
About Identity Theft 911
Identity Theft 911 is an industry leader in Identity Management, providing innovative, enterprise-level fraud solutions and consumer education to Fortune 500 companies, many of America's largest insurance companies and corporate benefit providers, and a wide spectrum of financial institutions, colleges, and universities. More than 11 million households are enrolled in Identity Theft 911's comprehensive identity management programs. For more information, call 480-355-8500 or visit www.identitytheft911.com.
Proactive Identity Management Services for Homeowner and Farmowner
Policyholders and Immediate Family Members
source
management, education, and resolution services.
According to the Federal Trade Commission, identity theft victimizes nine million Americans each year. In the past 12 months, Ohio officials reported a data breach exposing more than one million taxpayers, workers, companies and government agencies. The compromise was caused by the theft of a computer back-up tape containing hundreds of thousands of Social Security numbers from the car of a state intern.
"Identity theft is a traumatic, personal event that brings fear and uncertainty to its victims," said Michael Brogan, Vice President of Claims at Ohio Mutual Insurance Group. "There are certain events in life that expose individuals to a greater risk of becoming victimized. Expanding our relationship with Identity Theft 911 to include its 'Life Stages' services in our existing program will help our policyholders during these vulnerable times."
Identity Management Service Enhancements
To better protect its homeowner and farmowner policyholders from identity theft, Ohio Mutual is now offering proactive identity management services at no additional cost:
-- Child Risk Identity Assistance -- Proactive credit file suppression to help prevent the misuse of a minor's personal information -- a growing crime that can go undetected for years.
-- Identity Relocation Assistance -- Safeguards financial, credit, and identity data during a move, ensuring uninterrupted access to financial institutions and accounts, and any needed documentation.
-- Military Identity Assistance -- A 12-month Active Duty Military Fraud Alert is placed on the service member's credit file, reducing the risk of identity theft.
-- Proactive Fraud Alerts -- Where risk of identity theft is detected, a fraud alert is placed on the files maintained by the three major credit bureaus. The alert notifies potential credit grantors to check with the at-risk policyholder before extending new credit. In addition, this service will assist the policyholder to opt out of most marketing lists.
Policyholders who become victims have unrestricted access to a fraud specialist who will work one-on-one to resolve the crisis and restore their identity. As a part of the "Life Stages" program, policyholders will now also receive the following resolution services:
-- Estate Identity Assistance -- Helps safeguard the identity of a deceased from potential misuse by identity thieves. This includes minimizing potential risks to the surviving spouse's own identity in the case of joint credit files and financial documents.
-- Disaster Recovery Assistance -- Helps ensure uninterrupted access to financial institutions and accounts in the midst of a disaster such as a home fire, flood, hurricane, or earthquake. Quickly recaptures destroyed documentation needed to rebuild the policyholders' lives.
-- Medical Identity Assistance -- A fraud specialist is assigned to help undo the damage from fraudulently filed insurance claims or unauthorized charges for medical services.
In addition to these services, all policyholders have access to Identity Theft 911's proactive educational material, including daily Threat Alerts, investigative articles, monthly newsletters, white papers and more, through a dedicated website: www.omig.com and click the Identity Theft 911 link on the home page.
About Ohio Mutual Insurance Group
Ohio Mutual Insurance Group provides insurance protection for farm, auto, home, family, and business policyholders. With over 105 years of insurance protection experience, Ohio Mutual Insurance Group is represented by over 300 of the finest Independent Insurance Agents in Ohio, Rhode Island, Kansas and Nebraska. For more information, please visit our website at www.omig.com.
About Identity Theft 911
Identity Theft 911 is an industry leader in Identity Management, providing innovative, enterprise-level fraud solutions and consumer education to Fortune 500 companies, many of America's largest insurance companies and corporate benefit providers, and a wide spectrum of financial institutions, colleges, and universities. More than 11 million households are enrolled in Identity Theft 911's comprehensive identity management programs. For more information, call 480-355-8500 or visit www.identitytheft911.com.
Proactive Identity Management Services for Homeowner and Farmowner
Policyholders and Immediate Family Members
source
Monday, June 23, 2008
Creative Consumer: Using New Tools to Combat Identity Theft
By ELISABETH LEAMY
ABC NEWS Consumer Correspondent
May 5, 2008
I've spent the past month infiltrating the Internet underworld to show viewers how identity thieves actually operate. Our investigation found that crooks buy and sell people's credit card information for a dollar or less in fast-paced chat rooms.
They then can take that data and clone your credit card with a machine that is readily available over the Internet.
After my special reports aired on World News, dozens of you wrote in and said you found the revelations frightening. I wrote two articles that explained how identity thieves most often get your information and how to protect yourself, but I found folks are hungry for yet more information. So here are some other do's and don'ts.
It's tempting to outsource the task of protecting your identity, and monitoring services can be helpful. But it has come to my attention that some of these services charge money for steps you can easily take yourself.
Consumers are allowed to place a 90-day fraud alert on their credit record with the three major credit bureaus. This alert warns banks and other credit companies that they should check and make sure it's really you requesting the credit before they grant it. They usually simply call you to verify. Most people use this tool after their identity has been breached, but you can also do it pre-emptively.
Some commercial services place and renew these fraud alerts for you for a fee. It's up to you whether you're willing to pay for somebody else to do this chore.
You should know that whether you place a fraud alert yourself or hire somebody else to do it you won't be able to get instant credit in stores and such. You'll still be able to get loans and credit cards, but it will take longer. (If you need help managing impulse spending, this could be a good thing.)
Oh, and rest assured, placing a fraud alert on your credit report does not harm your credit rating in any way.
Consider a Credit Freeze
Late last year, consumers gained a new tool under the Identity Theft Protection Law. You now can block access to your credit report entirely. It's called a Credit Freeze. This prevents thieves from opening accounts in your name because the companies they approach have no way to check your creditworthiness.
Once you freeze your credit, the only entities that can access it are companies you already do business with, such as your credit card and mortgage companies and law enforcement agencies. You choose a secret password at the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion), and that password is required to access your credit file.
The downside is that, like with a fraud alert, your ability to get new credit yourself is slowed. One benefit you may appreciate is that this will stop the flow of unsolicited credit card offers that you probably receive in the mail.
source
ABC NEWS Consumer Correspondent
May 5, 2008
I've spent the past month infiltrating the Internet underworld to show viewers how identity thieves actually operate. Our investigation found that crooks buy and sell people's credit card information for a dollar or less in fast-paced chat rooms.
They then can take that data and clone your credit card with a machine that is readily available over the Internet.
After my special reports aired on World News, dozens of you wrote in and said you found the revelations frightening. I wrote two articles that explained how identity thieves most often get your information and how to protect yourself, but I found folks are hungry for yet more information. So here are some other do's and don'ts.
It's tempting to outsource the task of protecting your identity, and monitoring services can be helpful. But it has come to my attention that some of these services charge money for steps you can easily take yourself.
Consumers are allowed to place a 90-day fraud alert on their credit record with the three major credit bureaus. This alert warns banks and other credit companies that they should check and make sure it's really you requesting the credit before they grant it. They usually simply call you to verify. Most people use this tool after their identity has been breached, but you can also do it pre-emptively.
Some commercial services place and renew these fraud alerts for you for a fee. It's up to you whether you're willing to pay for somebody else to do this chore.
You should know that whether you place a fraud alert yourself or hire somebody else to do it you won't be able to get instant credit in stores and such. You'll still be able to get loans and credit cards, but it will take longer. (If you need help managing impulse spending, this could be a good thing.)
Oh, and rest assured, placing a fraud alert on your credit report does not harm your credit rating in any way.
Consider a Credit Freeze
Late last year, consumers gained a new tool under the Identity Theft Protection Law. You now can block access to your credit report entirely. It's called a Credit Freeze. This prevents thieves from opening accounts in your name because the companies they approach have no way to check your creditworthiness.
Once you freeze your credit, the only entities that can access it are companies you already do business with, such as your credit card and mortgage companies and law enforcement agencies. You choose a secret password at the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion), and that password is required to access your credit file.
The downside is that, like with a fraud alert, your ability to get new credit yourself is slowed. One benefit you may appreciate is that this will stop the flow of unsolicited credit card offers that you probably receive in the mail.
source
Friday, June 20, 2008
ID thefts mirror U.S. stats
Newport-Mesa crime statistics reflect U.S. trend in which ‘information explosion’ has bolstered more identity thefts.
By Joseph Serna
Updated: Saturday, May 10, 2008 7:04 PM PDT
There are No comments posted. View Comments
On average, one person has his or her identity stolen every day in Newport Beach and Costa Mesa, and this year seems to be on equal pace, police statistics show.
Through the first part of the year, both Costa Mesa and Newport Beach police were handling more than 150 identity theft cases, a total that has for the last few years been consistently on the rise.
“More than ever, the information explosion, aided by an era of easy credit, has led to the expansion of a crime that feeds on the inability of consumers to control who has access to sensitive information and how it is safeguarded,” said Newport Beach detective Dave White, an expert in identity theft.
Newport-Mesa statistics parallel a national trend of more and more people becoming victims of identity theft.
According to a 2006 study by Gartner Inc, an international technology research and advisory firm, nearly 29 people became victims of identity theft every minute in the country, or almost one every two seconds. The number was a substantial leap from a Federal Trade Commission study three years earlier.
The total number of identity theft victims in Costa Mesa and Newport Beach jumped more than 25% from 2005 to 2007. Each city had more than 400 victims last year.
Police say there are primarily three forms of identity theft: true name fraud, account takeover fraud and criminal identity theft. Criminal identity theft, in which a crook provides another individual’s personal information to police, is the least common, authorities said.
In the so-called “true name fraud,” the thief uses a consumer’s personal information to open up new accounts in their name, take over accounts, or gain access to someone’s account and make fraudulent charges.
These are the easiest and most common, detectives said.
“These forms of identity theft are easy to commit and often with complete anonymity,” White said.
Costa Mesa recorded 311 cases of identity theft in 2005, and 404 in 2007. Newport Beach police do not keep track of identity thefts individually, instead grouping them into a “fraud” category. Identity thefts make up about 85% of their cases, officials said.
In 2003, Newport Beach had 240 fraud cases. In 2007, it was nearly double that, up to 478.
For information on how to keep your identity from being stolen, visit either police department’s website at www.costamesapd.org and www.nbpd.org.
PROTECT YOURSELF
Never carry your Social Security card with you.
Never provide personal information unless you initiated the call or can confirm the identity of the person on the other end of the phone.
Be careful what you throw away. Shred personal documents containing sensitive information that others could use.
Check your credit card statements thoroughly for unusual charges.
If you’re listed in the phone book, consider leaving your address out. Leave off titles such as “doctor” or “attorney” or other signs announcing apparent affluence.
Report lost or stolen credit cards immediately. Call the company if your bill or new card has not arrived on time.
Never leave transaction receipts behind.
source
By Joseph Serna
Updated: Saturday, May 10, 2008 7:04 PM PDT
There are No comments posted. View Comments
On average, one person has his or her identity stolen every day in Newport Beach and Costa Mesa, and this year seems to be on equal pace, police statistics show.
Through the first part of the year, both Costa Mesa and Newport Beach police were handling more than 150 identity theft cases, a total that has for the last few years been consistently on the rise.
“More than ever, the information explosion, aided by an era of easy credit, has led to the expansion of a crime that feeds on the inability of consumers to control who has access to sensitive information and how it is safeguarded,” said Newport Beach detective Dave White, an expert in identity theft.
Newport-Mesa statistics parallel a national trend of more and more people becoming victims of identity theft.
According to a 2006 study by Gartner Inc, an international technology research and advisory firm, nearly 29 people became victims of identity theft every minute in the country, or almost one every two seconds. The number was a substantial leap from a Federal Trade Commission study three years earlier.
The total number of identity theft victims in Costa Mesa and Newport Beach jumped more than 25% from 2005 to 2007. Each city had more than 400 victims last year.
Police say there are primarily three forms of identity theft: true name fraud, account takeover fraud and criminal identity theft. Criminal identity theft, in which a crook provides another individual’s personal information to police, is the least common, authorities said.
In the so-called “true name fraud,” the thief uses a consumer’s personal information to open up new accounts in their name, take over accounts, or gain access to someone’s account and make fraudulent charges.
These are the easiest and most common, detectives said.
“These forms of identity theft are easy to commit and often with complete anonymity,” White said.
Costa Mesa recorded 311 cases of identity theft in 2005, and 404 in 2007. Newport Beach police do not keep track of identity thefts individually, instead grouping them into a “fraud” category. Identity thefts make up about 85% of their cases, officials said.
In 2003, Newport Beach had 240 fraud cases. In 2007, it was nearly double that, up to 478.
For information on how to keep your identity from being stolen, visit either police department’s website at www.costamesapd.org and www.nbpd.org.
PROTECT YOURSELF
Never carry your Social Security card with you.
Never provide personal information unless you initiated the call or can confirm the identity of the person on the other end of the phone.
Be careful what you throw away. Shred personal documents containing sensitive information that others could use.
Check your credit card statements thoroughly for unusual charges.
If you’re listed in the phone book, consider leaving your address out. Leave off titles such as “doctor” or “attorney” or other signs announcing apparent affluence.
Report lost or stolen credit cards immediately. Call the company if your bill or new card has not arrived on time.
Never leave transaction receipts behind.
source
Monday, June 16, 2008
Identity theft: More than $3 million spent in 3 months
by Tracy Coenen May 9th 2008 @ 3:30PM
Filed under: Fraud
You have to give this guy credit for being very good at what he did. My mom always told me, "If you're going to bother to do something, make sure you do it well." I bet James Hartman's mom is super proud of him. He stole his brother's identity and spent over $3 million in 3 months with it. On his list of goodies purchased via his brother's identity: A $48,000 pickup truck, a $49,000 pickup truck, two Dodge Durangos for $77,000, a Dodge Viper for $94,000, two ATVs, two houses, and some land. The grand total: $3.2 million.
James Hartman stole Ed Hartman's identity with his social security number and a photocopy of his driver's license. James says his brother approved of all the purchases. Ed says he knew nothing of it until someone called him because they were suspicious of the copy of the driver's license, being used to purchase another toy.
What a wonderful way to honor and love one's family. I've often theorized that family members steal more from their kin than they would from complete strangers. I don't know why, but it's sick. (Yes, this post is dedicated to my "Uncle Louie".)
Tracy L. Coenen, CPA, MBA, CFE performs fraud examinations and financial investigations for her company Sequence Inc. Forensic Accounting, and is the author of Essentials of Corporate Fraud.
source
Filed under: Fraud
You have to give this guy credit for being very good at what he did. My mom always told me, "If you're going to bother to do something, make sure you do it well." I bet James Hartman's mom is super proud of him. He stole his brother's identity and spent over $3 million in 3 months with it. On his list of goodies purchased via his brother's identity: A $48,000 pickup truck, a $49,000 pickup truck, two Dodge Durangos for $77,000, a Dodge Viper for $94,000, two ATVs, two houses, and some land. The grand total: $3.2 million.
James Hartman stole Ed Hartman's identity with his social security number and a photocopy of his driver's license. James says his brother approved of all the purchases. Ed says he knew nothing of it until someone called him because they were suspicious of the copy of the driver's license, being used to purchase another toy.
What a wonderful way to honor and love one's family. I've often theorized that family members steal more from their kin than they would from complete strangers. I don't know why, but it's sick. (Yes, this post is dedicated to my "Uncle Louie".)
Tracy L. Coenen, CPA, MBA, CFE performs fraud examinations and financial investigations for her company Sequence Inc. Forensic Accounting, and is the author of Essentials of Corporate Fraud.
source
Friday, June 13, 2008
Take steps to guard against identity theft
Not too many years ago, Petaluma residents didn’t worry about their mail being stolen or their cars being rifled by thieves during the night.
But times have certainly changed, and a couple of recent incidents highlight the importance of taking precautions to avoid becoming a victim of identity theft.
Last month, residents of rural Oak Lane and Jessie Lane reported a series of in-cidents in which someone en-tered their parked, unlocked cars during the night. One of the victims reported his credit card was stolen from the glove box of his car. Others felt that the intruders were looking for financial information that they could use for fraudulent purposes.
“We didn’t have to lock our doors back in the ’80s,” said one of the victims, “but it’s different now.”
In another incident, two Vallejo residents were arrest-ed at a Petaluma motel on April 30 for allegedly stealing mail from up to 100 people in mailboxes in several Bay Area cities, and then committing forgery by altering checks.
The Federal Trade Commission estimates that as many as 9 million Americans have their identities stolen each year. Identity theft is serious and takes many forms. Some victims spend hundreds of dollars and many hours repairing damage to their good name and credit record.
According to the FTC, thieves use a variety of methods to get hold of your information, including:
Dumpster diving. They rummage through trash looking for bills or other paper with your personal information on it.
Skimming. They steal credit and debit card numbers by using a special storage device when processing your card.
Phishing. They pretend to be financial institutions or companies and send spam or pop-up messages to get you to reveal your personal information.
Changing your address. They divert your billing statements to another location by completing a change-of-address form.
Old-fashioned stealing. They steal wallets and purses; mail, including bank and credit card statements; pre-approved credit offers; and new checks or tax information. They steal personnel records, or bribe employees who have access.
Pretexting. They use false pretenses to obtain your personal information from financial institutions, telephone companies, and other sources.
While there is no fool-proof way to avoid ID theft, there are steps you can take to minimize your chance of becoming a victim, and steps to take to minimize the damage should a theft occur. The FTC recommends following the “deter, detect, defend” strategy:
Deter identity thieves by safeguarding your private sensitive financial information.
Detect suspicious activity by routinely monitoring your financial accounts and billing statements.
Defend against identity theft as soon as you suspect a problem.
source
But times have certainly changed, and a couple of recent incidents highlight the importance of taking precautions to avoid becoming a victim of identity theft.
Last month, residents of rural Oak Lane and Jessie Lane reported a series of in-cidents in which someone en-tered their parked, unlocked cars during the night. One of the victims reported his credit card was stolen from the glove box of his car. Others felt that the intruders were looking for financial information that they could use for fraudulent purposes.
“We didn’t have to lock our doors back in the ’80s,” said one of the victims, “but it’s different now.”
In another incident, two Vallejo residents were arrest-ed at a Petaluma motel on April 30 for allegedly stealing mail from up to 100 people in mailboxes in several Bay Area cities, and then committing forgery by altering checks.
The Federal Trade Commission estimates that as many as 9 million Americans have their identities stolen each year. Identity theft is serious and takes many forms. Some victims spend hundreds of dollars and many hours repairing damage to their good name and credit record.
According to the FTC, thieves use a variety of methods to get hold of your information, including:
Dumpster diving. They rummage through trash looking for bills or other paper with your personal information on it.
Skimming. They steal credit and debit card numbers by using a special storage device when processing your card.
Phishing. They pretend to be financial institutions or companies and send spam or pop-up messages to get you to reveal your personal information.
Changing your address. They divert your billing statements to another location by completing a change-of-address form.
Old-fashioned stealing. They steal wallets and purses; mail, including bank and credit card statements; pre-approved credit offers; and new checks or tax information. They steal personnel records, or bribe employees who have access.
Pretexting. They use false pretenses to obtain your personal information from financial institutions, telephone companies, and other sources.
While there is no fool-proof way to avoid ID theft, there are steps you can take to minimize your chance of becoming a victim, and steps to take to minimize the damage should a theft occur. The FTC recommends following the “deter, detect, defend” strategy:
Deter identity thieves by safeguarding your private sensitive financial information.
Detect suspicious activity by routinely monitoring your financial accounts and billing statements.
Defend against identity theft as soon as you suspect a problem.
source
Monday, June 9, 2008
Strickland signs identity theft, cancer coverage bills
Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland on Tuesday signed two high-profile bills aimed at helping consumers, whether they are dealing with health coverage plans or identity theft.
The bills Strickland OK'd are:
House Bill 46 - The measure, sponsored by Reps. Tim DeGeeter, D-Parma, and Jimmy Stewart, R-Albany, sets a $5 limit to block access to a consumer's credit history from each of the three major credit reporting bureaus. Public agencies also are blocked from releasing documents containing an individual's Social Security number, while consumers have the option of having information such as credit card or bank account numbers removed from public electronic documents.
Senate Bill 186 - Sponsored by Sen. Steve Stivers, R-Columbus, the measure prohibits health coverage plans from excluding coverage for costs of a patient's routine care if the individual is participating in a clinical cancer trial. Typically, the medication or surgery is covered by the drug company or federal agency funding the research.
The bills Strickland OK'd are:
House Bill 46 - The measure, sponsored by Reps. Tim DeGeeter, D-Parma, and Jimmy Stewart, R-Albany, sets a $5 limit to block access to a consumer's credit history from each of the three major credit reporting bureaus. Public agencies also are blocked from releasing documents containing an individual's Social Security number, while consumers have the option of having information such as credit card or bank account numbers removed from public electronic documents.
Senate Bill 186 - Sponsored by Sen. Steve Stivers, R-Columbus, the measure prohibits health coverage plans from excluding coverage for costs of a patient's routine care if the individual is participating in a clinical cancer trial. Typically, the medication or surgery is covered by the drug company or federal agency funding the research.
Friday, June 6, 2008
SmartMetric Announces That Your Fingerprint Will Make Credit Card Signatures and ATM PIN Numbers a Thing of the Past
SURFSIDE, FL, May 09, 2008 (MARKET WIRE via COMTEX News Network) ----SmartMetric, Inc. (OTCBB: SMME) said today that its new Biometric Card will make signing a credit card or inputting a PIN number for your ATM card a thing of the past. With Identity Theft becoming the largest crime in the United States, a new and safer way of using credit and debit cards has become a quest for Banks around the World. After more then 8 years of R&D, SmartMetric has announced today that it now can replace signatures and PIN numbers with a person's fingerprint thereby providing a 100% guarantee that the person making the transaction is who they say they are.
Inside your credit card is the smallest fingerprint scanner and reader in the world. Powered by an internal battery as thin as tissue paper the SmartMetric Biometric Fingerprint Card will only work when the card scans and reads the card owner's fingerprint. You become the key. Only the person authorized to use the card can turn it on. The company President, Mr. Colin Hendrick, said this represents a revolution in credit card security that has the potential to make his company, SmartMetric, Inc., a world leader in the credit card and banking card industry.
Not only will the Fingerprint Card potentially save Banks around the world hundreds of millions of dollars but consumers will be protected against Identity Theft from this advance in electronic miniaturization. Using nano technology SmartMetric has achieved what many had thought impossible: a self-contained fingerprint scanner that fits inside a credit card.
The card uses a standard SmartCard surface-mounted chip as its interface thereby making the SmartMetric Fingerprint Card useable by 90% of the world's ATM machines and credit card reading machines in retailers around the world.
source
Inside your credit card is the smallest fingerprint scanner and reader in the world. Powered by an internal battery as thin as tissue paper the SmartMetric Biometric Fingerprint Card will only work when the card scans and reads the card owner's fingerprint. You become the key. Only the person authorized to use the card can turn it on. The company President, Mr. Colin Hendrick, said this represents a revolution in credit card security that has the potential to make his company, SmartMetric, Inc., a world leader in the credit card and banking card industry.
Not only will the Fingerprint Card potentially save Banks around the world hundreds of millions of dollars but consumers will be protected against Identity Theft from this advance in electronic miniaturization. Using nano technology SmartMetric has achieved what many had thought impossible: a self-contained fingerprint scanner that fits inside a credit card.
The card uses a standard SmartCard surface-mounted chip as its interface thereby making the SmartMetric Fingerprint Card useable by 90% of the world's ATM machines and credit card reading machines in retailers around the world.
source
Monday, June 2, 2008
Couple learn how hard it is to clean up ID theft mess
(Bakersfield Californian, The (KRT) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) May 9--Norma Armstrong usually keeps a close watch on family finances, but she's been distracted. In the middle of recovering from cancer surgery, her husband, Tom, also was diagnosed with cancer. It turned out to be wrong, but they dodged one bullet only to be pierced by another.
When Norma, 62, went to pay bills, she noticed her husband's checking and savings accounts were abnormally low.
"She kept asking me what I was spending all that money on," said Tom, 63. "I thought she had spent it."
Eventually the southwest Bakersfield couple learned an identity thief had stolen at least $21,500 between March and April, when they discovered and reported the fraud.
Then the Armstrongs made another startling discovery. There are myriad rules that govern a bank's duty to a consumer whose identity has been stolen, and the rules differ depending on a wide array of factors, including the type of fraud and when it is reported. All of that affects when -- or whether -- a victim of identity theft will be extended so-called "provisional credit," the banking industry's term for money to get by on during an investigation.
Last month, Washington Mutual Bank told the Armstrongs they would not get provisional credit.
"We asked them if they would at least give us half of the money, and then give us the rest after they finished looking into everything," Norma said. "They told us no, there was identity theft happening all the time and there wasn't enough money to help everybody, and we would just have to wait."
It can take weeks, or in extreme cases, years, to sort out identity theft. The rules for making theft victims whole are so confusing that even banks don't always understand their obligations.
It wasn't until this week, after a call from a reporter, that WaMu restored funds to Tom's accounts. The length of time it took to assist the Armstrongs isn't typical, said WaMu spokesman Gary Kishner.
"If the customer reports the crime within a reasonable amount of time, and by reasonable I mean 30 to 60 days, we usually extend provisional credit," he said.
WHO CAN HELP
Identity theft cleanup is so murky that some victims end up outsourcing it. You can subscribe to services that will alert you if anyone pulls your credit report, and even buy insurance to cover the work of sifting through fraud.
Candace Davenport, a certified identity theft risk management specialist in San Francisco, sells a so-called identity theft shield plan for $12.95 a month, more when bundled with prepaid legal services. It's a small price to pay, she insisted, when you consider the average victim spends $1,200 to clear his or her name.
"So much depends on what was charged on what card, and every bank has a different policy, so any solutions will be frustrating, time consuming and potentially expensive," Davenport said.
But Slade Dukes, an elder consumer protection fellow at the Center for Excellence in Elder Law at Stetson University College of Law in Gulfport, Fla., said there's nothing the services will do for you that you can't do for yourself -- if you're willing to spend the time.
Her advice: keep detailed documentation on all your contacts with law enforcement and creditors.
THE CLOCK IS TICKING
Under Federal Reserve System regulations, when an ATM or debit card is lost or stolen, consumers who report the card missing within two business days are liable for no more than $50. Reporting after that leaves you on the hook for up to $500.
--If a thief uses your account number to shop: You must report the fraud to both law enforcement and the bank within 60 days of the issuing of a statement on which the disputed transactions appear. The same rule applies to other electronic fund transfers such as direct deposit or transactions initiated by phone or online.
--The bank has 10 days to investigate an allegation of fraud without restoring missing funds. If the investigation takes longer, banks are supposed to extend provisional credit.
It's provisional because the consumer could be liable if the investigation concludes the account holder actually was in cahoots with the thief, or voluntarily gave a card to someone who used it inappropriately. These provisional credit rules don't apply to wire transfers or electronic trading of stocks and commodities. They also don't cover paper checks, or an identity thief posing as someone else and withdrawing funds in person.
--If you shop online: It's better to use a credit card than a debit card. Under Fed rules, consumers are liable for the first $50 of unauthorized credit card charges if the fraud is reported fast, but most banks have opted to eat that.
NOTIFY CREDITORS, GOVERNMENT
The Federal Trade Commission can walk you through the steps to clean up the mess.
As you close accounts, be sure to also call at least one of the nation's three major credit bureaus, which distribute consumer credit ratings. Most issuers of credit subscribe to either Experian in Costa Mesa, Calif.; Equifax in Atlanta; or TransUnion in Chicago. A fraud alert filed with one goes to the others.
If your identity has been usurped beyond one card or transaction, tell government agencies, such as the Social Security Administration and the Department of Motor Vehicles.
The Armstrongs have done all that. They estimate they've spent at least 40 hours talking to various officials since discovering Tom's bank accounts were drained to $2.64 in checking and 64 cents in savings.
The bank statements don't give vendor names, for the most part. They're just pages of addresses the Armstrongs don't recognize. One of the few they could identify was a Chevron, where someone spent $2,517 on a single day.
"It's just been a nightmare," Norma said. "It's overwhelming."
When Norma, 62, went to pay bills, she noticed her husband's checking and savings accounts were abnormally low.
"She kept asking me what I was spending all that money on," said Tom, 63. "I thought she had spent it."
Eventually the southwest Bakersfield couple learned an identity thief had stolen at least $21,500 between March and April, when they discovered and reported the fraud.
Then the Armstrongs made another startling discovery. There are myriad rules that govern a bank's duty to a consumer whose identity has been stolen, and the rules differ depending on a wide array of factors, including the type of fraud and when it is reported. All of that affects when -- or whether -- a victim of identity theft will be extended so-called "provisional credit," the banking industry's term for money to get by on during an investigation.
Last month, Washington Mutual Bank told the Armstrongs they would not get provisional credit.
"We asked them if they would at least give us half of the money, and then give us the rest after they finished looking into everything," Norma said. "They told us no, there was identity theft happening all the time and there wasn't enough money to help everybody, and we would just have to wait."
It can take weeks, or in extreme cases, years, to sort out identity theft. The rules for making theft victims whole are so confusing that even banks don't always understand their obligations.
It wasn't until this week, after a call from a reporter, that WaMu restored funds to Tom's accounts. The length of time it took to assist the Armstrongs isn't typical, said WaMu spokesman Gary Kishner.
"If the customer reports the crime within a reasonable amount of time, and by reasonable I mean 30 to 60 days, we usually extend provisional credit," he said.
WHO CAN HELP
Identity theft cleanup is so murky that some victims end up outsourcing it. You can subscribe to services that will alert you if anyone pulls your credit report, and even buy insurance to cover the work of sifting through fraud.
Candace Davenport, a certified identity theft risk management specialist in San Francisco, sells a so-called identity theft shield plan for $12.95 a month, more when bundled with prepaid legal services. It's a small price to pay, she insisted, when you consider the average victim spends $1,200 to clear his or her name.
"So much depends on what was charged on what card, and every bank has a different policy, so any solutions will be frustrating, time consuming and potentially expensive," Davenport said.
But Slade Dukes, an elder consumer protection fellow at the Center for Excellence in Elder Law at Stetson University College of Law in Gulfport, Fla., said there's nothing the services will do for you that you can't do for yourself -- if you're willing to spend the time.
Her advice: keep detailed documentation on all your contacts with law enforcement and creditors.
THE CLOCK IS TICKING
Under Federal Reserve System regulations, when an ATM or debit card is lost or stolen, consumers who report the card missing within two business days are liable for no more than $50. Reporting after that leaves you on the hook for up to $500.
--If a thief uses your account number to shop: You must report the fraud to both law enforcement and the bank within 60 days of the issuing of a statement on which the disputed transactions appear. The same rule applies to other electronic fund transfers such as direct deposit or transactions initiated by phone or online.
--The bank has 10 days to investigate an allegation of fraud without restoring missing funds. If the investigation takes longer, banks are supposed to extend provisional credit.
It's provisional because the consumer could be liable if the investigation concludes the account holder actually was in cahoots with the thief, or voluntarily gave a card to someone who used it inappropriately. These provisional credit rules don't apply to wire transfers or electronic trading of stocks and commodities. They also don't cover paper checks, or an identity thief posing as someone else and withdrawing funds in person.
--If you shop online: It's better to use a credit card than a debit card. Under Fed rules, consumers are liable for the first $50 of unauthorized credit card charges if the fraud is reported fast, but most banks have opted to eat that.
NOTIFY CREDITORS, GOVERNMENT
The Federal Trade Commission can walk you through the steps to clean up the mess.
As you close accounts, be sure to also call at least one of the nation's three major credit bureaus, which distribute consumer credit ratings. Most issuers of credit subscribe to either Experian in Costa Mesa, Calif.; Equifax in Atlanta; or TransUnion in Chicago. A fraud alert filed with one goes to the others.
If your identity has been usurped beyond one card or transaction, tell government agencies, such as the Social Security Administration and the Department of Motor Vehicles.
The Armstrongs have done all that. They estimate they've spent at least 40 hours talking to various officials since discovering Tom's bank accounts were drained to $2.64 in checking and 64 cents in savings.
The bank statements don't give vendor names, for the most part. They're just pages of addresses the Armstrongs don't recognize. One of the few they could identify was a Chevron, where someone spent $2,517 on a single day.
"It's just been a nightmare," Norma said. "It's overwhelming."
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Ex-con seeks to launch devices fighting ID theft
Like other entrepreneurs, Ray Beasley begins his day with an 8 a.m. coffee stop at Starbucks. Sipping a Cafe Americano, he flips open his Sony Vaio laptop, fires off e-mails and works his cellphone.
But unlike them, Mr. Beasley's r̩sum̩ doesn't include an MBA or experience in corporate America. He's an ex-con who developed his business idea while serving time in Texas prisons, and his "brain trust" is made up of fellow inmates convicted for the crime he's now trying to prevent Рidentity theft.
"My first thought was: You've got to be kidding me," says Donald Hicks, a University of Texas at Dallas economics professor, when Mr. Beasley showed up two years ago, unannounced, at his campus office. "This guy is built like a linebacker, and he's just out of prison?"
But Dr. Hicks listened as Mr. Beasley reeled off his tale of hours spent in prison rec yards and day rooms interviewing cons, learning their scams and silently drawing up plans for a computer program he believes could thwart identity theft using countertop machines in stores and restaurants.
"The spirit and the drive he displayed ... on a human level, I admire that tremendously," says Dr. Hicks. "I couldn't just blow him off."
The 45-year-old Mr. Beasley grew up on Ramsey Street in Cedar Hill, a southern Dallas County town where parents turned children loose on bicycles and neighbors knew and looked out for each other. The Beasleys – Mom, Dad and four children – were devout Jehovah's Witnesses who quoted scripture with ease.
Dad Raymond Beasley Sr. had founded his own construction business while in his early 30s. The younger Mr. Beasley often joined his father at jobs in Highland Park, where Beasley Foundation Contractors poured concrete for Bernard Fulton, founder of the prestigious Greenhill School, and real estate doyenne Allie Beth Allman. The boy saw –and liked – how the other half lived.
The drug life
In fall 1981, Mr. Beasley started classes at the University of Houston. But when his father's construction business fell on hard times a year later, he dropped out and went looking for a way to make money, quickly.
It took one phone call to set up a meeting for him to buy 7 kilograms of cocaine – the first time the 19-year-old had ever seen the drug.
"It was quicker and easier to get kilos of cocaine than a loan from a bank," Mr. Beasley says now.
This was a heady time for the young man who'd been spit on proselytizing door-to-door as a Jehovah's Witness. He bought expensive suits, drove flashy cars and dated even flashier women.
Then, in February 1990, Mr. Beasley and a business associate from East Texas went to meet "Angela" and her California connection at the Bennigan's on Northwest Highway to buy cocaine. "California," he recalls, turned out to be an undercover officer, and the two were arrested.
While out on bail on the drug charges, Mr. Beasley briefly joined a gang with a specialty in stealing identities and check kiting. "It was like robbing a bank with an ink pen," he says.
Hard time
In September 1991, Mr. Beasley saw the harder side of crime. He began his 99-year term at the red-brick, razor-wired Coffield unit in Tennessee Colony, about 70 miles southeast of Dallas.
Beneath the 40-foot-tall stained-glass window in the prison's cavernous chapel, he and other inmates would pretend to listen to tapes of religious music. Instead, an inmate known as "Dorsett" would school Mr. Beasley in Identity Theft 101.
All you need are obituaries in the newspaper, Dorsett told him. They'd give you a birth date and place of birth as well as the mother's maiden name – most of the ingredients needed to pose as someone else.
Identities in hand, "Reginald" explained that personal checks could then be made from scratch with stock paper from an office supply store and some software.
In 1994, Mr. Beasley picked up his abandoned college studies, enrolling in data processing classes, where he learned how to draw schematic diagrams.
Fellow inmates tutored him in subjects such as COBOL programming and MS-DOS. He got a transfer to the Ramsey One unit near Houston in 2001 to continue his studies.
If the prisoners at Coffield gave the inmate his undergraduate education in identity theft, Ramsey One was graduate school. Ramsey housed professionals: engineers, bankers and computer programmers.
"We didn't talk scams; we talked systems capabilities," Mr. Beasley says.
This is where he met Michael Miller, a fellow inmate who had been a computer programmer. They were an odd pair – the fiftysomething bespectacled Mr. Miller and Mr. Beasley, who weighed nearly 300 pounds by then. Mr. Miller offered technical advice, and Mr. Beasley could resurrect his drug dealer's countenance when necessary, shielding Mr. Miller from prison violence.
"I was very skeptical," says Mr. Miller, now released and living in the Dallas area. "In that environment, you always assume everybody but yourself is a scam artist."
For three years, Mr. Beasley retraced the steps to Mr. Miller's dorm, six rooms down. Pointing to a particular formula in Mr. Beasley's hand-drawn schematic, Mr. Miller would ask: How would this stop someone from opening up an account in my name?
Over the 15 years he was in prison, Mr. Beasley talked with about 900 inmates, he believes. This think tank of cons shared their methods with him and poked holes in solutions he would propose within his computer program.
In March 2006, Mr. Beasley was paroled after 15 years in prison. By then, both his parents were dead and he was estranged from his brothers and sisters. He moved in with an aunt in Wichita Falls and got a job washing dishes at a local El Chico.
But in Dallas, Carolyn Jones, an old high school teacher, became his agent, trying to drum up support for his fledgling company, B System.
"He had a lot more potential than he ever really lived up to," she says.
And then, that July, he paid his surprise visit to Don Hicks at UTD.
It was Dr. Hicks who put him in touch with Tom Hill, an Electronic Data Systems Inc. fellow and a rainmaker in the tech world. Like Dr. Hicks, Mr. Hill found himself attracted to the ex-con's passion.
Mr. Hill paid the tuition for an entrepreneurship class at Southern Methodist University, telling Mr. Beasley that having an idea wasn't enough.Mr. Hill also introduced him to Doug Harris, who runs UTD's cybersecurity institute. Dr. Harris said UTD would build a beta machine to test Mr. Beasley's theories if he could raise the money: $600,000.
"If I can get that machine built, I can get everything I want," Mr. Beasley says now.
Believers and backers
Since that meeting last June with Dr. Harris, Mr. Beasley has rounded up investors in B System: a family of churchgoers in Sunnyvale, a group of Dallas firefighters, old friends who want this story to have a happy ending.
One morning, Gigi White, now a Lancaster City Council member, walked into Starbucks and reintroduced herself to a speechless Mr. Beasley. He hadn't seen her since they were in their 20s on the Dallas club scene.
But she'd heard about his time in prison, his release and his quest to make B System real. As she left, the councilwoman pressed a $300 check into Mr. Beasley's hand.
"You've always been a smart man," she told him. "Now you're doing it smarter."
In the last year, Mr. Beasley has raised about $85,000, most of which he has spent on food, rent, Internet service and an attorney to help him patent his idea.
His investors say they believe in Mr. Beasley's dream.
"I gave Enron a chance," says Ray Allen, a retiree who, along with his wife, Martha, invested $5,000 in B System. "Why not him?"
Still, the big money has eluded Mr. Beasley, and the clock is ticking.
"If this doesn't happen in a hurry, someone else will do it," Dr. Harris says.
Mr. Beasley refuses to take time away and get a regular job.
Working 9-to-5 wouldn't get him the money fast enough, he says. "My story hasn't been typical so far, so why should I act typically?"
Mr. Beasley finds it frustrating to know that if he returned – even briefly – to his old life, getting the money would be easy.
Instead, he hopes for a savior. "God gave Joseph the power to interpret dreams, and the pharaoh listened," he said, quoting from a Bible story in Genesis. "I just haven't found the right pharaoh."
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Springfield woman gets four years in ID theft case
By SBJ Staff
5/9/2008 9:58:59 AM
A Springfield woman was sentenced last month to four years in prison following a joint investigation by Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon, Greene County Prosecuting Attorney Darrell Moore and the Springfield Police Department.
According to a news release from Nixon’s office, Circuit Judge Thomas E. Mountjoy sentenced Norma Black, of Springfield, on one count of felony identity theft in Greene County Circuit Court. The release said Black stole an acquaintance’s identity to make $3,000 worth of withdrawals from the victim’s bank account, including ATM withdrawals and charges to online poker sites.
Black was indicted by a Greene County grand jury in September 2006 after identity theft charges were filed by Moore against her and co-defendant Jason Waln, who was sentenced in March to five years in prison for his role in the case.
The victim, whose name was not disclosed, reported to Nixon’s office that someone had accessed her bank account to make ATM withdrawals, purchase items at a Springfield discount store and for use on several online gambling sites. The victim discovered her debit card missing from her purse after she spent the night at Black’s home. Nixon’s office was appointed to assist in the multi-faceted investigation, which linked the defendants to the use of the debit card.
“We are always ready to work with local prosecutors to share our expertise in identity theft cases, and it is satisfying to have another one of those cases seen through to its conclusion,” Nixon said in the release. “It is also a good time to reinforce to Missouri consumers how important it is to safeguard their sensitive personal information, whether it is online or in their purses or wallets.”
Click here to take Nixon’s 10-question ID Theft Quiz to test your knowledge about protecting personal information.
Copyright 2008 SBJ. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
source
5/9/2008 9:58:59 AM
A Springfield woman was sentenced last month to four years in prison following a joint investigation by Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon, Greene County Prosecuting Attorney Darrell Moore and the Springfield Police Department.
According to a news release from Nixon’s office, Circuit Judge Thomas E. Mountjoy sentenced Norma Black, of Springfield, on one count of felony identity theft in Greene County Circuit Court. The release said Black stole an acquaintance’s identity to make $3,000 worth of withdrawals from the victim’s bank account, including ATM withdrawals and charges to online poker sites.
Black was indicted by a Greene County grand jury in September 2006 after identity theft charges were filed by Moore against her and co-defendant Jason Waln, who was sentenced in March to five years in prison for his role in the case.
The victim, whose name was not disclosed, reported to Nixon’s office that someone had accessed her bank account to make ATM withdrawals, purchase items at a Springfield discount store and for use on several online gambling sites. The victim discovered her debit card missing from her purse after she spent the night at Black’s home. Nixon’s office was appointed to assist in the multi-faceted investigation, which linked the defendants to the use of the debit card.
“We are always ready to work with local prosecutors to share our expertise in identity theft cases, and it is satisfying to have another one of those cases seen through to its conclusion,” Nixon said in the release. “It is also a good time to reinforce to Missouri consumers how important it is to safeguard their sensitive personal information, whether it is online or in their purses or wallets.”
Click here to take Nixon’s 10-question ID Theft Quiz to test your knowledge about protecting personal information.
Copyright 2008 SBJ. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
source
Monday, May 26, 2008
When security intrudes on our lives
When security intrudes on our lives
Voice-print systems offer safety in an insecure world, but how much privacy should we sacrifice?
Gerry Bellett, Vancouver Sun
Published: Tuesday, April 15, 2008One recent Monday morning, Vancouver immigration lawyer Richard Kurland phoned Aeroplan to change his seats on a flight he plans to make May 15 and found he was being asked to submit to being "voice-printed."
Was this just another example of companies adding more layers of security to protect themselves and their customers from the ravages of identity theft or something more sinister?
Kurland is betting on the more sinister.
Vancouver immigration lawyer Richard Kurland says safeguards are needed to regulate who can have access to our biological data, such as voice prints and iris scans.
"It was quite a shock to find Aeroplan using an Orwellian system such as this," said Kurland, who recently travelled to Toronto to lecture on access to information.
When he had called Aeroplan's automated answering system, a recorded voice told him that a new security feature had been added.
"We have introduced a voice print security feature and in the future I'll use this voice print to verify your identity," he was told by an automated voice.
Kurland's reaction was to hit the zero button on his phone and keep pressing until an operator came on who changed his seat without the necessity of being voice-printed.
He wants to know why this feature has been added to Aeroplan's service and worries that voice prints of customers will be part of an "international matrix that will allow foreign governments to retrieve and store a voice print voluntarily supplied by a Canadian citizen."
But Aeroplan's Michele Meier said that would not happen.
"We have a stringent privacy rule that prevents us giving that information to anyone. This is just an in-house system to make it easier for customers to get service," Meier said.
She described the system as voice recognition technology that was introduced last year.
"As far as I know this is the first time anyone has complained about it," she said. "Our members seem to appreciate it."
Aeroplan has four million members, the majority living in Canada, with half a million customers living in other countries.
Anyone who didn't want to use the voice-print system could deal with Aeroplan using e-mail or direct phone lines, Meier said.
But Kurland wasn't reassured by Aeroplan's explanation.
"They might not be giving the information over as such, but government agencies might have the right to have access to it," he said.
"At the end of the day there will be no controls over my voice print once I've given it. So Canadians who voluntarily offer the voice print have just said goodbye to their personal information. It's the technological equivalent of being fingerprinted," he said.
Meier said the voice prints would not be accessible to outside agencies.
"It's an internal system and nobody outside has access to it," she said.
For Kurland, the request for voice imprints is just one more demand being made by companies and governments pushing people to prove their identity by submitting to such things as iris scans and fingerprinting.
If the Canadian government got access to voice prints it would have to share them with other countries, he said, due to international conventions covering the sharing of information for security purposes.
Friday, May 23, 2008
IRS investigates Bonita case as identity theft
By JOHN OSBORNE (Contact)
11:52 a.m., Thursday, May 8, 2008
Economic stimulus rebate checks notwithstanding, dealing with the Internal Revenue Service is rarely a pleasant experience.
Especially if they’re going after you for back taxes on income you never earned.
According to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, a Bonita Springs man on Tuesday received a letter from the IRS telling him he owed nearly $5,000 from working at a grocery store in Virginia in 2006. Problem is, the man never worked at a grocery store in Virginia.
Apparently, however, his Social Security number was attached to the 1040 associated with the job.
The IRS is investigating the matter as possible identity theft.
source
11:52 a.m., Thursday, May 8, 2008
Economic stimulus rebate checks notwithstanding, dealing with the Internal Revenue Service is rarely a pleasant experience.
Especially if they’re going after you for back taxes on income you never earned.
According to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, a Bonita Springs man on Tuesday received a letter from the IRS telling him he owed nearly $5,000 from working at a grocery store in Virginia in 2006. Problem is, the man never worked at a grocery store in Virginia.
Apparently, however, his Social Security number was attached to the 1040 associated with the job.
The IRS is investigating the matter as possible identity theft.
source
Monday, May 19, 2008
How You Can Avoid Becoming A Victim Of Identity Theft Through E-Bay & Paypal
See this excellent article from Tina Barraclough who's one of the senior experts at Ezine articles
"I decided to write this article after I become a victim of identity theft on November 7, 2006. Before this happened to me , I used to be one of those people that think things like this could and would never happen to me, I do not feel this way anymore. I found out the hard way that if you do not take all the necessary step to protect yourself from identity theft, that sometime in your life you could become a victim.
First off, let me tell you what happened to me. On the morning of November 7, 2006 I got on my computer to check my emails and do all my usual activity related to my home businesses that I am involved in.
When I opened up my email program I noticed the first 50 or so emails were from eBay saying "You have won such and such" item. I am thinking to myself that these emails must be fake emails as I had not bought anything from E-Bay recently. So I thought the next time I go onto eBay I will check and see if these emails were in my messages in my eBay account.
Just then my friend called me to ask me if I could go on E-bay and look for something for her as her computer was down (That was my blessing as it would turn out) I go into my E-bay account and as I am looking for this item for her I notice I had a new feedback score, and I knew I should not have a new score as I did not purchase anything new recently.
I click on my feedback to see where this came from, and to my surprise I received feedback from one of the sellers that sold an item that was in those emails I had gotten from E-bay. At this point in time I am starting to freak out here because I am now realizing that the emails I received from E-bay were not fake emails apparently. I tell my friend I will call her back."
Click here for more of Tina's article on How You Can Avoid Becoming A Victim Of Identity Theft Through E-Bay & Paypal
"I decided to write this article after I become a victim of identity theft on November 7, 2006. Before this happened to me , I used to be one of those people that think things like this could and would never happen to me, I do not feel this way anymore. I found out the hard way that if you do not take all the necessary step to protect yourself from identity theft, that sometime in your life you could become a victim.
First off, let me tell you what happened to me. On the morning of November 7, 2006 I got on my computer to check my emails and do all my usual activity related to my home businesses that I am involved in.
When I opened up my email program I noticed the first 50 or so emails were from eBay saying "You have won such and such" item. I am thinking to myself that these emails must be fake emails as I had not bought anything from E-Bay recently. So I thought the next time I go onto eBay I will check and see if these emails were in my messages in my eBay account.
Just then my friend called me to ask me if I could go on E-bay and look for something for her as her computer was down (That was my blessing as it would turn out) I go into my E-bay account and as I am looking for this item for her I notice I had a new feedback score, and I knew I should not have a new score as I did not purchase anything new recently.
I click on my feedback to see where this came from, and to my surprise I received feedback from one of the sellers that sold an item that was in those emails I had gotten from E-bay. At this point in time I am starting to freak out here because I am now realizing that the emails I received from E-bay were not fake emails apparently. I tell my friend I will call her back."
Click here for more of Tina's article on How You Can Avoid Becoming A Victim Of Identity Theft Through E-Bay & Paypal
Friday, May 16, 2008
Tips To Ward Off Hackers And Identity Theft
Here's another interesting article how to ward off Hackers and Identity Theft by Nazima Golamaully
Hackers and identity theft is a very real cause for concern today and not something that you would normally associate with science fiction where all sorts of plots are always being hatched in order to rob people of their identities.
With the dawn of the Internet, today there is a real threat concerning hackers and identity theft which means that you must be on top of the situation at all times and be educated with regard to knowing how to prevent someone hacking your personal details and robbing you off your identity.
Advanced Techniques Of Stealing Your Identity
Today, hackers and identity theft are a very real threat and the advanced techniques being used make robbing you of your identity as simple as stealing candy from a child. Essentially, a hacker will find out your name, credit card number, Social Security number or other piece of vital information and then use it to perform illegal acts.
Please see the rest of Nazima Golamaully articel in Ezine Articles.
Hackers and identity theft is a very real cause for concern today and not something that you would normally associate with science fiction where all sorts of plots are always being hatched in order to rob people of their identities.
With the dawn of the Internet, today there is a real threat concerning hackers and identity theft which means that you must be on top of the situation at all times and be educated with regard to knowing how to prevent someone hacking your personal details and robbing you off your identity.
Advanced Techniques Of Stealing Your Identity
Today, hackers and identity theft are a very real threat and the advanced techniques being used make robbing you of your identity as simple as stealing candy from a child. Essentially, a hacker will find out your name, credit card number, Social Security number or other piece of vital information and then use it to perform illegal acts.
Please see the rest of Nazima Golamaully articel in Ezine Articles.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Consumer identity-theft protection services: What works?
And who actually puts a Social Security number on the side of a truck?
By Dan Tynan
May 6, 2008 (PC World) You can't open a newspaper or a browser without reading about some data spill that has put consumers' personal information at risk. Over the past three years, more than 220 million private records have been lost or stolen, according to the San Diego-based Privacy Rights Clearinghouse. In 2007, 8 million to 15 million Americans had their identities stolen. The odds that it will happen to you are about one in five, according to surveys conducted by the Chubb Group.
Identity theft is a national epidemic, but some firms also see it as a marketing opportunity. In fact, some credit bureaus and banks that facilitated the spread of easy credit--and in the process unwittingly made identity theft a more profitable crime--now sell services to help you avoid having your identity pilfered.
For $10 to $20 a month, a company such as LifeLock or TransUnion will monitor your credit reports, alert you if anyone opens an account in your name, and help you recover fraudulent charges. But you can do many of the things these services offer to do, at no cost except for the effort (see "DIY identity-theft protection: A 12-step program" for details).
To assess the paid services, we signed up with six leading firms. Even services that worked as advertised weren't comprehensive. Only two -- Suze Orman's Identity Theft Kit and Identity Guard -- offered protection for anything beyond financial fraud. Using any of the services is better than doing nothing, but you may still have to work to safeguard your identity.
Monitoring your credit
Annual credit reports are free, but Javelin Strategy and Research president James Van Dyke says that credit monitoring has become a billion-dollar business for credit bureaus.
The keys to your financial identity jangle in the pockets of the Big Three credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. When you apply for a credit card, sign up for a wireless plan, or apply for a job, the company you're trying to do business with is likely to request a copy of your credit report. If anyone steals your identity, that person's bad behavior goes on your report, hurting your chances for a loan, a phone, or a job.
Federal law entitles you to a free annual report from each of the Big Three. You also qualify for a free copy if you've recently been denied credit or if you're an identity-theft victim. The bureaus make no money by supplying free credit reports, but they make a lot of money -- more than $1 billion annually, according to Javelin Strategy and Research president James Van Dyke--by selling credit-monitoring services.
For $5 to $20 per month, a credit-monitoring service will alert you whenever your report changes. If a thief opens new accounts in your name, you'll usually find out within a few days. Most monitoring services offer online credit reports, online credit scores (showing your chances of obtaining credit), and tools for managing and improving your credit rating.
But a credit-monitoring service won't tell you if someone steals your credit card and runs up huge bills; for that you must check your monthly billing statements. Furthermore, if you receive an alert about a dubious inquiry, you'll have to identify it as bogus and contact the credit bureaus on your own.
Our real-world tests of two major credit-monitoring services yielded mixed results. First we signed up for TrueCredit's three-in-one monitoring service, which promises to deliver e-mail alerts from all three bureaus for $15 a month. The first two times our tester tried to open a new credit account, TrueCredit failed to issue an alert. A third test a month later was more successful.
By Dan Tynan
May 6, 2008 (PC World) You can't open a newspaper or a browser without reading about some data spill that has put consumers' personal information at risk. Over the past three years, more than 220 million private records have been lost or stolen, according to the San Diego-based Privacy Rights Clearinghouse. In 2007, 8 million to 15 million Americans had their identities stolen. The odds that it will happen to you are about one in five, according to surveys conducted by the Chubb Group.
Identity theft is a national epidemic, but some firms also see it as a marketing opportunity. In fact, some credit bureaus and banks that facilitated the spread of easy credit--and in the process unwittingly made identity theft a more profitable crime--now sell services to help you avoid having your identity pilfered.
For $10 to $20 a month, a company such as LifeLock or TransUnion will monitor your credit reports, alert you if anyone opens an account in your name, and help you recover fraudulent charges. But you can do many of the things these services offer to do, at no cost except for the effort (see "DIY identity-theft protection: A 12-step program" for details).
To assess the paid services, we signed up with six leading firms. Even services that worked as advertised weren't comprehensive. Only two -- Suze Orman's Identity Theft Kit and Identity Guard -- offered protection for anything beyond financial fraud. Using any of the services is better than doing nothing, but you may still have to work to safeguard your identity.
Monitoring your credit
Annual credit reports are free, but Javelin Strategy and Research president James Van Dyke says that credit monitoring has become a billion-dollar business for credit bureaus.
The keys to your financial identity jangle in the pockets of the Big Three credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. When you apply for a credit card, sign up for a wireless plan, or apply for a job, the company you're trying to do business with is likely to request a copy of your credit report. If anyone steals your identity, that person's bad behavior goes on your report, hurting your chances for a loan, a phone, or a job.
Federal law entitles you to a free annual report from each of the Big Three. You also qualify for a free copy if you've recently been denied credit or if you're an identity-theft victim. The bureaus make no money by supplying free credit reports, but they make a lot of money -- more than $1 billion annually, according to Javelin Strategy and Research president James Van Dyke--by selling credit-monitoring services.
For $5 to $20 per month, a credit-monitoring service will alert you whenever your report changes. If a thief opens new accounts in your name, you'll usually find out within a few days. Most monitoring services offer online credit reports, online credit scores (showing your chances of obtaining credit), and tools for managing and improving your credit rating.
But a credit-monitoring service won't tell you if someone steals your credit card and runs up huge bills; for that you must check your monthly billing statements. Furthermore, if you receive an alert about a dubious inquiry, you'll have to identify it as bogus and contact the credit bureaus on your own.
Our real-world tests of two major credit-monitoring services yielded mixed results. First we signed up for TrueCredit's three-in-one monitoring service, which promises to deliver e-mail alerts from all three bureaus for $15 a month. The first two times our tester tried to open a new credit account, TrueCredit failed to issue an alert. A third test a month later was more successful.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
2 charged with identity theft
By Brent Jones
May 7, 2008
A federal grand jury indicted two Baltimore men and a city woman yesterday on charges of stealing mail and using the victims' Social Security numbers and other identification information to cash checks, prosecutors said.
Joseph Lawrence, 43, Maurice Racks, 53 and Tara Wagner, 37, are accused of assuming the identities of at least 31 people from April through October of last year and face charges of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and aggravated identity theft, according to the U.S. attorney's office.
The indictment alleges that the defendants created false identification documents in the names of the victims by combining their own personal information with the victims' information. The defendants then used the false identification documents to cash checks, according to the indictment. Prosecutors say some of the victims lived on Dudley Avenue in Baltimore and on Foxcreek Court in Owings Mills. Lawrence and Wagner could face a maximum of 25 years in prison if convicted; Racks could face a maximum of 10 years.
May 7, 2008
A federal grand jury indicted two Baltimore men and a city woman yesterday on charges of stealing mail and using the victims' Social Security numbers and other identification information to cash checks, prosecutors said.
Joseph Lawrence, 43, Maurice Racks, 53 and Tara Wagner, 37, are accused of assuming the identities of at least 31 people from April through October of last year and face charges of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and aggravated identity theft, according to the U.S. attorney's office.
The indictment alleges that the defendants created false identification documents in the names of the victims by combining their own personal information with the victims' information. The defendants then used the false identification documents to cash checks, according to the indictment. Prosecutors say some of the victims lived on Dudley Avenue in Baltimore and on Foxcreek Court in Owings Mills. Lawrence and Wagner could face a maximum of 25 years in prison if convicted; Racks could face a maximum of 10 years.
Monday, May 12, 2008
Sheriff says identity theft ring broken up, suspect shot
By Kevin Cole and Nancy Gaarder
05/08/2008
Authorities say they broke up an identity theft ring Wednesday, but only after a violent struggle in a downtown Omaha hotel hallway in which a suspect was shot in the chest and a sheriff's deputy was hit over the head with a vase.
Jason Galle, 32, of Omaha was taken to Creighton University Medical Center in critical condition from the gunshot wound. Douglas County Sheriff's Deputy Mike Smith suffered about a 4-inch gash in the back of his head and also was taken to Creighton.
Smith was treated and released. Douglas County Sheriff Tim Dunning said Galle is expected to recover.
The incident unfolded as if from a movie script. According to Dunning:
Deputies Smith and Brenda Wheeler went to the Courtyard by Marriott, 10th and Dodge Streets, about 10 a.m. Wednesday after employees become suspicious of a couple who had checked in using what appeared to be a stolen credit card.
Smith, who has been with the Sheriff's Office 10 years, and Wheeler, a 16-year-veteran, headed to Room 416, where the couple were staying. As the two deputies left the elevator and headed down the hallway, they saw Galle and a 23-year-old pregnant woman coming out of the room.
Galle was carrying a rolled-up pair of blue jeans under his arm, and the woman was holding a black satchel.
Galle tried to hurry past the deputies and into the elevator, when Smith tried to stop him. As Galle pushed the deputy back, the jeans fell from his arm, and a .22-caliber pistol tumbled out.
The two men began to struggle while Wheeler took control of the woman, fearing that she, too, could be carrying a gun.
Smith then got one of Galle's wrists handcuffed, but Galle grabbed a heavy glass vase and smashed Smith across the back of the head.
Dunning said that by that time, the deputy was "fighting for his life'' and unholstered his Smith & Wesson 9 mm revolver.
Smith fired once, striking Galle in the chest.
Galle fell to the floor and curled up, bleeding so much that early reports indicated that he had been shot twice, once in the chest and once in the leg.
Smith was bleeding from the back of the head.
Deputies learned that Galle and the woman were headed to a room on the eighth floor where two other men were staying.
Additional deputies arrived at the hotel. Authorities headed to the eighth floor, where they found two men in a room with a copy machine and other instruments used for making false identification, Dunning said.
"I'm really having a good feeling that this will lead to the closing of an identity theft ring,'' he said.
Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine said his office would review reports from the Sheriff's Office when the investigation is completed and decide what charges are appropriate.
The incident had its genesis in a Sunday morning church service at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church, near 153rd and Pacific Streets.
A woman left her purse in her car while she attended Mass. Someone broke into the car and stole the purse, which contained cash, identification and credit cards.
Because the church is outside Omaha's city limits, the Douglas County Sheriff's Office, not the Omaha Police Department, responded to the call and handled the investigation.
Wednesday, Galle and the woman arrived at the hotel and checked in using one of the credit cards. Hotel employees became suspicious of the two, so they called the name listed on the card. A person answered the phone and confirmed that the people staying at the hotel were not authorized to use the card.
That's when hotel employees called authorities. Marriott officials have declined to comment.
05/08/2008
Authorities say they broke up an identity theft ring Wednesday, but only after a violent struggle in a downtown Omaha hotel hallway in which a suspect was shot in the chest and a sheriff's deputy was hit over the head with a vase.
Jason Galle, 32, of Omaha was taken to Creighton University Medical Center in critical condition from the gunshot wound. Douglas County Sheriff's Deputy Mike Smith suffered about a 4-inch gash in the back of his head and also was taken to Creighton.
Smith was treated and released. Douglas County Sheriff Tim Dunning said Galle is expected to recover.
The incident unfolded as if from a movie script. According to Dunning:
Deputies Smith and Brenda Wheeler went to the Courtyard by Marriott, 10th and Dodge Streets, about 10 a.m. Wednesday after employees become suspicious of a couple who had checked in using what appeared to be a stolen credit card.
Smith, who has been with the Sheriff's Office 10 years, and Wheeler, a 16-year-veteran, headed to Room 416, where the couple were staying. As the two deputies left the elevator and headed down the hallway, they saw Galle and a 23-year-old pregnant woman coming out of the room.
Galle was carrying a rolled-up pair of blue jeans under his arm, and the woman was holding a black satchel.
Galle tried to hurry past the deputies and into the elevator, when Smith tried to stop him. As Galle pushed the deputy back, the jeans fell from his arm, and a .22-caliber pistol tumbled out.
The two men began to struggle while Wheeler took control of the woman, fearing that she, too, could be carrying a gun.
Smith then got one of Galle's wrists handcuffed, but Galle grabbed a heavy glass vase and smashed Smith across the back of the head.
Dunning said that by that time, the deputy was "fighting for his life'' and unholstered his Smith & Wesson 9 mm revolver.
Smith fired once, striking Galle in the chest.
Galle fell to the floor and curled up, bleeding so much that early reports indicated that he had been shot twice, once in the chest and once in the leg.
Smith was bleeding from the back of the head.
Deputies learned that Galle and the woman were headed to a room on the eighth floor where two other men were staying.
Additional deputies arrived at the hotel. Authorities headed to the eighth floor, where they found two men in a room with a copy machine and other instruments used for making false identification, Dunning said.
"I'm really having a good feeling that this will lead to the closing of an identity theft ring,'' he said.
Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine said his office would review reports from the Sheriff's Office when the investigation is completed and decide what charges are appropriate.
The incident had its genesis in a Sunday morning church service at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church, near 153rd and Pacific Streets.
A woman left her purse in her car while she attended Mass. Someone broke into the car and stole the purse, which contained cash, identification and credit cards.
Because the church is outside Omaha's city limits, the Douglas County Sheriff's Office, not the Omaha Police Department, responded to the call and handled the investigation.
Wednesday, Galle and the woman arrived at the hotel and checked in using one of the credit cards. Hotel employees became suspicious of the two, so they called the name listed on the card. A person answered the phone and confirmed that the people staying at the hotel were not authorized to use the card.
That's when hotel employees called authorities. Marriott officials have declined to comment.
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Take steps to guard against identity theft
Published: Thursday, May 8, 2008
Not too many years ago, Petaluma residents didn’t worry about their mail being stolen or their cars being rifled by thieves during the night.
But times have certainly changed, and a couple of recent incidents highlight the importance of taking precautions to avoid becoming a victim of identity theft.
Last month, residents of rural Oak Lane and Jessie Lane reported a series of in-cidents in which someone en-tered their parked, unlocked cars during the night. One of the victims reported his credit card was stolen from the glove box of his car. Others felt that the intruders were looking for financial information that they could use for fraudulent purposes.
“We didn’t have to lock our doors back in the ’80s,” said one of the victims, “but it’s different now.”
In another incident, two Vallejo residents were arrest-ed at a Petaluma motel on April 30 for allegedly stealing mail from up to 100 people in mailboxes in several Bay Area cities, and then committing forgery by altering checks.
The Federal Trade Commission estimates that as many as 9 million Americans have their identities stolen each year. Identity theft is serious and takes many forms. Some victims spend hundreds of dollars and many hours repairing damage to their good name and credit record.
According to the FTC, thieves use a variety of methods to get hold of your information, including:
Dumpster diving. They rummage through trash looking for bills or other paper with your personal information on it.
Skimming. They steal credit and debit card numbers by using a special storage device when processing your card.
Phishing. They pretend to be financial institutions or companies and send spam or pop-up messages to get you to reveal your personal information.
Changing your address. They divert your billing statements to another location by completing a change-of-address form.
Old-fashioned stealing. They steal wallets and purses; mail, including bank and credit card statements; pre-approved credit offers; and new checks or tax information. They steal personnel records, or bribe employees who have access.
Pretexting. They use false pretenses to obtain your personal information from financial institutions, telephone companies, and other sources.
While there is no fool-proof way to avoid ID theft, there are steps you can take to minimize your chance of becoming a victim, and steps to take to minimize the damage should a theft occur. The FTC recommends following the “deter, detect, defend” strategy:
Deter identity thieves by safeguarding your private sensitive financial information.
Detect suspicious activity by routinely monitoring your financial accounts and billing statements.
Defend against identity theft as soon as you suspect a problem.
Not too many years ago, Petaluma residents didn’t worry about their mail being stolen or their cars being rifled by thieves during the night.
But times have certainly changed, and a couple of recent incidents highlight the importance of taking precautions to avoid becoming a victim of identity theft.
Last month, residents of rural Oak Lane and Jessie Lane reported a series of in-cidents in which someone en-tered their parked, unlocked cars during the night. One of the victims reported his credit card was stolen from the glove box of his car. Others felt that the intruders were looking for financial information that they could use for fraudulent purposes.
“We didn’t have to lock our doors back in the ’80s,” said one of the victims, “but it’s different now.”
In another incident, two Vallejo residents were arrest-ed at a Petaluma motel on April 30 for allegedly stealing mail from up to 100 people in mailboxes in several Bay Area cities, and then committing forgery by altering checks.
The Federal Trade Commission estimates that as many as 9 million Americans have their identities stolen each year. Identity theft is serious and takes many forms. Some victims spend hundreds of dollars and many hours repairing damage to their good name and credit record.
According to the FTC, thieves use a variety of methods to get hold of your information, including:
Dumpster diving. They rummage through trash looking for bills or other paper with your personal information on it.
Skimming. They steal credit and debit card numbers by using a special storage device when processing your card.
Phishing. They pretend to be financial institutions or companies and send spam or pop-up messages to get you to reveal your personal information.
Changing your address. They divert your billing statements to another location by completing a change-of-address form.
Old-fashioned stealing. They steal wallets and purses; mail, including bank and credit card statements; pre-approved credit offers; and new checks or tax information. They steal personnel records, or bribe employees who have access.
Pretexting. They use false pretenses to obtain your personal information from financial institutions, telephone companies, and other sources.
While there is no fool-proof way to avoid ID theft, there are steps you can take to minimize your chance of becoming a victim, and steps to take to minimize the damage should a theft occur. The FTC recommends following the “deter, detect, defend” strategy:
Deter identity thieves by safeguarding your private sensitive financial information.
Detect suspicious activity by routinely monitoring your financial accounts and billing statements.
Defend against identity theft as soon as you suspect a problem.
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Hall Monitor: Councillor claims Facebook identity theft
An alarmed Toronto city councillor has alerted police after discovering someone has been impersonating him on the social-networking site Facebook.
Howard Moscoe (Eglinton-Lawrence) said he learned of the "identity theft" when a fellow councillor mentioned that he was his "friend." Unfamiliar with the term as Facebook lingo for being part of each other's online social cirlces, Mr. Moscoe asked for an explanation. He told his colleague he didn't even have a Facebook page.
Curious, Mr. Moscoe said he then called his daughter who had his granddaughter check out his profil. She reported back on the contents and his collection of "friends" – which besides other city councillors includes Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty.
In a letter he has addressed to Facebook administrators, he asks for their intervention to take down the page.
"It has just come to my attention that someone has registered with your service using my name, photograph and information without my knowledge, permission or consent," a copy of the email letter Mr. Moscoe distributed to reporters states. "The information that has been posted to the site contains statements, purportedly made by me, which can be considered defamatory to other persons."
Mr. Moscoe told reporters that some of the comments, which he did not make, concerned blustery city councillor Rob Ford (Etobicoke North). Mr. Moscoe called to apologize and to inform him that he had nothing to do with the remarks but said he didn't think Mr. Ford was anymore up on the Facebook concept than he was.
"I have advised our local police force of this identity theft and am now contacting you to request that you immediately suspend the user account," he furher wrote to Facebook administrators. "Thank you for your assistance with this unpleasant misappropriation."
Howard Moscoe (Eglinton-Lawrence) said he learned of the "identity theft" when a fellow councillor mentioned that he was his "friend." Unfamiliar with the term as Facebook lingo for being part of each other's online social cirlces, Mr. Moscoe asked for an explanation. He told his colleague he didn't even have a Facebook page.
Curious, Mr. Moscoe said he then called his daughter who had his granddaughter check out his profil. She reported back on the contents and his collection of "friends" – which besides other city councillors includes Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty.
In a letter he has addressed to Facebook administrators, he asks for their intervention to take down the page.
"It has just come to my attention that someone has registered with your service using my name, photograph and information without my knowledge, permission or consent," a copy of the email letter Mr. Moscoe distributed to reporters states. "The information that has been posted to the site contains statements, purportedly made by me, which can be considered defamatory to other persons."
Mr. Moscoe told reporters that some of the comments, which he did not make, concerned blustery city councillor Rob Ford (Etobicoke North). Mr. Moscoe called to apologize and to inform him that he had nothing to do with the remarks but said he didn't think Mr. Ford was anymore up on the Facebook concept than he was.
"I have advised our local police force of this identity theft and am now contacting you to request that you immediately suspend the user account," he furher wrote to Facebook administrators. "Thank you for your assistance with this unpleasant misappropriation."
Friday, May 9, 2008
Roboform Keeps Passwords and More Protected
Lisa wrote an interesting article on Roboform and how to keep Passwords and More Protected. Please see excerpt below:
"With technology comes convenience, but also threats to security. Each time a consumer accesses their bank or shops online their keystrokes may be recorded, hackers may obtain their financial information and personal information may be released. There is a software to protect Internet users, while they are doing any number of tasks from registering for travel to playing games online.
Today's technology offers consumers so many conveniences; on-line banking, internet shopping, on-line bill paying, research at our fingertips, e-mail, instant messaging, photo image storing and creation and so much more.
In addition to many important day to day financial and communication tasks, the internet offers many other opportunities for entertainment, free samples, and survey's, game and contests. But with all of the convenience of working and playing on-line, in addition to the security risks, most users still feel burdened by the amount of time it takes to fill in forms over and over. As we access any number of internet sites, we are required time and again to complete forms, create accounts, sign in and utilize passwords."
Click here for more of Lisa Carey's article on Roboform Keeps Passwords and More Protection
"With technology comes convenience, but also threats to security. Each time a consumer accesses their bank or shops online their keystrokes may be recorded, hackers may obtain their financial information and personal information may be released. There is a software to protect Internet users, while they are doing any number of tasks from registering for travel to playing games online.
Today's technology offers consumers so many conveniences; on-line banking, internet shopping, on-line bill paying, research at our fingertips, e-mail, instant messaging, photo image storing and creation and so much more.
In addition to many important day to day financial and communication tasks, the internet offers many other opportunities for entertainment, free samples, and survey's, game and contests. But with all of the convenience of working and playing on-line, in addition to the security risks, most users still feel burdened by the amount of time it takes to fill in forms over and over. As we access any number of internet sites, we are required time and again to complete forms, create accounts, sign in and utilize passwords."
Click here for more of Lisa Carey's article on Roboform Keeps Passwords and More Protection
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