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Thursday, July 10, 2008
Bank Worker Charged With Identity Theft
A state grand jury has indicted a former employee of the Commerce Bank branch in Mount Laurel on charges she provided personal information of bank customers to individuals who then stole the customers' identities.
Jennifer Mullner, 22, of Hammonton, a former loan services representative at the bank branch; her boyfriend, William Roman, 21, of Galloway; and Anthony Wood, also known as Anthony Bickerstaff, 44, of Philadelphia, were each charged with conspiracy, computer criminal activity and identity theft, which are second-degree offenses.
The indictment alleges that between March 1 and Oct. 30, 2007, Mullner accessed at least 240 bank documents containing customer information, including loan information and account numbers, and unlawfully provided the information to Wood.
Mullner is also accused of providing documents to Roman on two occasions, who then forwarded the information to Wood, according to the indictment. Authorities say Roman was paid $250 for his involvement.
The indictment said the defendants stole the identities of at least five victims and obtained more than $100,000 in merchandise and services.
New Jersey State Police arrested Wood on Feb. 26. He was released from Burlington County Jail on $100,000 bail.
By MELISSA HAYES (Burlington County Times)
Jennifer Mullner, 22, of Hammonton, a former loan services representative at the bank branch; her boyfriend, William Roman, 21, of Galloway; and Anthony Wood, also known as Anthony Bickerstaff, 44, of Philadelphia, were each charged with conspiracy, computer criminal activity and identity theft, which are second-degree offenses.
The indictment alleges that between March 1 and Oct. 30, 2007, Mullner accessed at least 240 bank documents containing customer information, including loan information and account numbers, and unlawfully provided the information to Wood.
Mullner is also accused of providing documents to Roman on two occasions, who then forwarded the information to Wood, according to the indictment. Authorities say Roman was paid $250 for his involvement.
The indictment said the defendants stole the identities of at least five victims and obtained more than $100,000 in merchandise and services.
New Jersey State Police arrested Wood on Feb. 26. He was released from Burlington County Jail on $100,000 bail.
By MELISSA HAYES (Burlington County Times)
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Not Shredding Can Be Costly
Texas Insurance Claims Services in Richardson is the latest business to make the news for what is in their dumpster. The company had boxes of customers' personal information sitting out for anyone to see. They story was reported to WFAA after a man was taking pictures of the dumpsters contents. The man claimed he was just looking for boxes but it is unclear why he was taking pictures. The business owner said the files were five years old and he was no longer required to save them. The cost of the fines will easily exceed the cost of the paper shredding.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Identity Theft Suspect Accused Of Stealing More
Jocelyn S. Kirsch can't seem to break the habit.
Already described as a poster child for identity theft by Philadelphia's top federal prosecutor, a handcuffed Kirsch ended up in court yesterday after prosecutors said she stole another credit card in California last week.
She wasn't charged in the theft, but U.S. Magistrate Judge Lynne A. Sitarski set federal bail at $50,000 and ordered Kirsch, 22, held under house arrest until another court hearing next week.
Kirsch is expected to plead guilty June 5 in U.S. District Court in Center City to a six-count complaint charging her and boyfriend Edward K. Anderton with using the good names and credit of others to finance a yearlong, $119,000 spending spree. Anderton, 25, a University of Pennsylvania graduate, has a court date Monday and also is expected to plead guilty.
U.S. Attorney Patrick L. Meehan has said he would seek five-year terms for both.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Louis Lappen said Kirsch took the credit card of an acquaintance and used it.
Earlier this month, Meehan called Kirsch and Anderton - dubbed a modern-day Bonnie and Clyde by police - the "poster children for identity theft."
No one was immune from their greed, Meehan said. They allegedly preyed on coworkers, neighbors and friends. The list also included another couple from whom the pair took information, first when they were guests and later when they burgled their hosts' home.
Officials said the duo's elaborate scheme involved at least 16 victims before they were arrested in December.
Their actions ranged from simply stealing purses at a Center City bar to establishing multiple accounts under different names and wearing disguises to withdraw money from some of those bank accounts, prosecutors said.
Already described as a poster child for identity theft by Philadelphia's top federal prosecutor, a handcuffed Kirsch ended up in court yesterday after prosecutors said she stole another credit card in California last week.
She wasn't charged in the theft, but U.S. Magistrate Judge Lynne A. Sitarski set federal bail at $50,000 and ordered Kirsch, 22, held under house arrest until another court hearing next week.
Kirsch is expected to plead guilty June 5 in U.S. District Court in Center City to a six-count complaint charging her and boyfriend Edward K. Anderton with using the good names and credit of others to finance a yearlong, $119,000 spending spree. Anderton, 25, a University of Pennsylvania graduate, has a court date Monday and also is expected to plead guilty.
U.S. Attorney Patrick L. Meehan has said he would seek five-year terms for both.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Louis Lappen said Kirsch took the credit card of an acquaintance and used it.
Earlier this month, Meehan called Kirsch and Anderton - dubbed a modern-day Bonnie and Clyde by police - the "poster children for identity theft."
No one was immune from their greed, Meehan said. They allegedly preyed on coworkers, neighbors and friends. The list also included another couple from whom the pair took information, first when they were guests and later when they burgled their hosts' home.
Officials said the duo's elaborate scheme involved at least 16 victims before they were arrested in December.
Their actions ranged from simply stealing purses at a Center City bar to establishing multiple accounts under different names and wearing disguises to withdraw money from some of those bank accounts, prosecutors said.
Monday, June 23, 2008
Identity Theft Through A Lifetime
Identity thieves discriminate to some degree. Anyone -- young or old, rich or poor -- can be a victim, but fraudsters generally prefer the easiest targets.
While most Americans are doing more to protect themselves from identity theft, others allow themselves to be more vulnerable. The greatest risk is to the 25- to 34-year-old age group. The good news is that as we get older, we're less likely to become a victim.
"What we're finding is that once somebody gets past the age of 44, the numbers start going down," says Keith Anderson, a spokesman for the Federal Trade Commission.
Still, 8.1 million adult Americans last year discovered that ID thieves had breached their personal data and committed one or more crimes against them, according to a February report by Pleasanton, Calif.-based Javelin Strategy & Research.
Children - In February, the FTC reported about 5 percent of all identity theft complaints involved victims under 18.
Teens and young adults - Most of the time, parents don't even think to check their child's credit report. But by the time the child graduates from high school, it could be too late. To complicate matters, teens and young adults are among the least likely to take steps to prevent identity theft. College students are notorious for leaving doors unlocked, computers unsecured and credit card bills in plain sight of potential thieves -- behaviors that invite trouble. If you have roommates, you should always keep paper statements under lock and key. Paper is a risky financial document. Six percent of all ID fraud comes from paper documents.
Young families - Newlyweds just starting out generally have positive outlooks, believing that the best days are ahead of them. But if their credit card or bank account information were filched somehow, they may face tough times ahead instead. If an ID thief gets a person's checks or debit card and drains his bank account, he generally has 48 hours to report the fraud. After that brief window, the person's on the hook for $500. If he doesn't report fraud within 60 days, his liability is unlimited.
Seniors - 89 percent of consumers age 50 to 64 said they regularly shred unnecessary documents containing sensitive information. Some 69 percent said they would consider initiating a credit freeze to protect their information. In the 65-plus age category, nearly 79 percent shred documents, and 53 percent would consider initiating a freeze.
Read the full article here : http://biz.yahoo.com/brn/080527/25449.html?.v=1
While most Americans are doing more to protect themselves from identity theft, others allow themselves to be more vulnerable. The greatest risk is to the 25- to 34-year-old age group. The good news is that as we get older, we're less likely to become a victim.
"What we're finding is that once somebody gets past the age of 44, the numbers start going down," says Keith Anderson, a spokesman for the Federal Trade Commission.
Still, 8.1 million adult Americans last year discovered that ID thieves had breached their personal data and committed one or more crimes against them, according to a February report by Pleasanton, Calif.-based Javelin Strategy & Research.
Children - In February, the FTC reported about 5 percent of all identity theft complaints involved victims under 18.
Teens and young adults - Most of the time, parents don't even think to check their child's credit report. But by the time the child graduates from high school, it could be too late. To complicate matters, teens and young adults are among the least likely to take steps to prevent identity theft. College students are notorious for leaving doors unlocked, computers unsecured and credit card bills in plain sight of potential thieves -- behaviors that invite trouble. If you have roommates, you should always keep paper statements under lock and key. Paper is a risky financial document. Six percent of all ID fraud comes from paper documents.
Young families - Newlyweds just starting out generally have positive outlooks, believing that the best days are ahead of them. But if their credit card or bank account information were filched somehow, they may face tough times ahead instead. If an ID thief gets a person's checks or debit card and drains his bank account, he generally has 48 hours to report the fraud. After that brief window, the person's on the hook for $500. If he doesn't report fraud within 60 days, his liability is unlimited.
Seniors - 89 percent of consumers age 50 to 64 said they regularly shred unnecessary documents containing sensitive information. Some 69 percent said they would consider initiating a credit freeze to protect their information. In the 65-plus age category, nearly 79 percent shred documents, and 53 percent would consider initiating a freeze.
Read the full article here : http://biz.yahoo.com/brn/080527/25449.html?.v=1
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Two Defendants Sentenced for Identity Theft Conspiracy
John F. Wood, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that two defendants were sentenced in federal court Tuesday for participating in an identity theft conspiracy.
Tarik I. Liwaru, 34, of Kansas City, Kan., and Michelle Rene Williams, 40, of Kansas City, Mo., were sentenced in separate appearances before U.S. District Judge Ortrie D. Smith. Liwaru was sentenced to five years in federal prison without parole, which is the statutory maximum penalty. The court also ordered Liwaru to pay $160,272 in restitution. Williams was sentenced to 30 months federal prison without parole. The court also ordered Williams to pay $114,283 in restitution.
Approximately 116 victims suffered a total loss of more than $400,000 as a result of two separate fraud schemes that were perpetrated using stolen identity information. Among 16 co-defendants charged in an Aug. 10, 2006, federal indictment and a later superseding indictment, four co-defendants have been convicted at trial and 12 co-defendants have pleaded guilty.
On Oct. 26, 2007, Liwaru, along with co-defendants Carlton Strother, 39, and Arlester E. Scott, Jr., 42, both of Kansas City, and Chandra L. Jenkins, 28, of Plano, Texas, were convicted by a federal jury of conspiracy to commit identity theft and access device fraud. The defendants used stolen identity information to open credit accounts and make purchases at stores like Sam's Club, Target, Old Navy, Home Depot and others. They also used the stolen identity information to finance an automobile purchase and to apply for cellular telephone service.
Strother and Jenkins were also convicted of participating in a separate conspiracy, a mortgage fraud scheme that involved the use of stolen identity information to obtain more than $2 million in mortgages. Conspirators obtained three separate mortgages to purchase homes in Lee's Summit and Kansas City, as well as lines of credit and credit cards at a bank in Texas. Strother and Jenkins are scheduled to be sentenced on Wednesday, May 21, 2008. A sentencing hearing for Scott has not been scheduled.
Liwaru, Scott and Strother were found guilty of participating in the conspiracy to commit identity theft from March 3, 2005, to Sept. 26, 2005. They obtained personal identification information of persons together with their personal credit information. They used a computer to create counterfeit driver's licenses in the names of the identity theft victims for the purpose of making unauthorized applications for credit. Personal identity information of the identity theft victims was stolen from two Kansas City-area businesses - Jeremy Franklin Suzuki and Hearthside Lending, a real estate loan brokerage - that kept large volumes of credit information of their customers, including credit bureau reports that reflected the creditworthiness of each identity theft victim.
Liwaru provided Strother with stolen credit bureau reports from Hearthside Lending. Evidence presented during the trial indicates that 76 victims (who had been customers of Hearthside Lending) suffered a total loss of more than $160,272 as a result of the first conspiracy.
Scott, a former employee of Jeremy Franklin Suzuki, stole credit bureau reports obtained by the car dealership in connection with the financing of automobile sales, then sold them to Strother. Evidence presented during the trial indicates that 40 victims (who had been customers of Jeremy Franklin Suzuki) suffered a total loss of more than $67,837 as a result of the first conspiracy.
Conspirators who managed the scheme recruited others to the conspiracy by promising them a share of the proceeds. The identity theft victims' financial information was used by the conspirators to make computer-generated counterfeit Kansas driver's licenses, which contained the information of the identity theft victims, but with the photo of one of the recruited conspirators, or shoppers. The shoppers used the stolen identities and counterfeit driver's licenses to make instant credit applications at retail stores while posing as the identity theft victims. Once the instant credit applications were approved, they made credit purchases at the stores.
On Oct. 5, 2007, Williams pleaded guilty to her role in the identity theft conspiracy. Williams admitted that she used the stolen identity information of at least eight different victims to make instant credit applications and more than $85,884 in purchases over a period of about five months during the summer of 2005.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John E. Cowles. It was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service Financial Crimes Task Force, including officers from the Independence, Mo., Police Department, the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department, the Kansas City, Kan., Police Department, the Overland Park, Kan., Police Department, the Johnson County, Kan., Sheriff's Department, the U. S. Postal Inspection Service, and IRS-Criminal Investigation
Tarik I. Liwaru, 34, of Kansas City, Kan., and Michelle Rene Williams, 40, of Kansas City, Mo., were sentenced in separate appearances before U.S. District Judge Ortrie D. Smith. Liwaru was sentenced to five years in federal prison without parole, which is the statutory maximum penalty. The court also ordered Liwaru to pay $160,272 in restitution. Williams was sentenced to 30 months federal prison without parole. The court also ordered Williams to pay $114,283 in restitution.
Approximately 116 victims suffered a total loss of more than $400,000 as a result of two separate fraud schemes that were perpetrated using stolen identity information. Among 16 co-defendants charged in an Aug. 10, 2006, federal indictment and a later superseding indictment, four co-defendants have been convicted at trial and 12 co-defendants have pleaded guilty.
On Oct. 26, 2007, Liwaru, along with co-defendants Carlton Strother, 39, and Arlester E. Scott, Jr., 42, both of Kansas City, and Chandra L. Jenkins, 28, of Plano, Texas, were convicted by a federal jury of conspiracy to commit identity theft and access device fraud. The defendants used stolen identity information to open credit accounts and make purchases at stores like Sam's Club, Target, Old Navy, Home Depot and others. They also used the stolen identity information to finance an automobile purchase and to apply for cellular telephone service.
Strother and Jenkins were also convicted of participating in a separate conspiracy, a mortgage fraud scheme that involved the use of stolen identity information to obtain more than $2 million in mortgages. Conspirators obtained three separate mortgages to purchase homes in Lee's Summit and Kansas City, as well as lines of credit and credit cards at a bank in Texas. Strother and Jenkins are scheduled to be sentenced on Wednesday, May 21, 2008. A sentencing hearing for Scott has not been scheduled.
Liwaru, Scott and Strother were found guilty of participating in the conspiracy to commit identity theft from March 3, 2005, to Sept. 26, 2005. They obtained personal identification information of persons together with their personal credit information. They used a computer to create counterfeit driver's licenses in the names of the identity theft victims for the purpose of making unauthorized applications for credit. Personal identity information of the identity theft victims was stolen from two Kansas City-area businesses - Jeremy Franklin Suzuki and Hearthside Lending, a real estate loan brokerage - that kept large volumes of credit information of their customers, including credit bureau reports that reflected the creditworthiness of each identity theft victim.
Liwaru provided Strother with stolen credit bureau reports from Hearthside Lending. Evidence presented during the trial indicates that 76 victims (who had been customers of Hearthside Lending) suffered a total loss of more than $160,272 as a result of the first conspiracy.
Scott, a former employee of Jeremy Franklin Suzuki, stole credit bureau reports obtained by the car dealership in connection with the financing of automobile sales, then sold them to Strother. Evidence presented during the trial indicates that 40 victims (who had been customers of Jeremy Franklin Suzuki) suffered a total loss of more than $67,837 as a result of the first conspiracy.
Conspirators who managed the scheme recruited others to the conspiracy by promising them a share of the proceeds. The identity theft victims' financial information was used by the conspirators to make computer-generated counterfeit Kansas driver's licenses, which contained the information of the identity theft victims, but with the photo of one of the recruited conspirators, or shoppers. The shoppers used the stolen identities and counterfeit driver's licenses to make instant credit applications at retail stores while posing as the identity theft victims. Once the instant credit applications were approved, they made credit purchases at the stores.
On Oct. 5, 2007, Williams pleaded guilty to her role in the identity theft conspiracy. Williams admitted that she used the stolen identity information of at least eight different victims to make instant credit applications and more than $85,884 in purchases over a period of about five months during the summer of 2005.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John E. Cowles. It was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service Financial Crimes Task Force, including officers from the Independence, Mo., Police Department, the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department, the Kansas City, Kan., Police Department, the Overland Park, Kan., Police Department, the Johnson County, Kan., Sheriff's Department, the U. S. Postal Inspection Service, and IRS-Criminal Investigation
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
ID Theft Seminar Includes Document Shredding Service
Identity theft continues to be an increasing crime, and a free seminar is designed to help you avoid being the next victim.
The seminar, called "Stop Identity Theft," will be Thursday morning at the Florence-Lauderdale Coliseum.
A document shredding service will be available in conjunction with the seminar.
The seminar is presented by the Better Business Bureau of the Shoals, Listerhill Credit Union and University of North Alabama Small Business Development Center.
Christy Yeiser, regional vice president over the bureau in the Shoals, said each person can bring up to two bags or boxes of documents, checkbooks and files that have sensitive information. Those will be shredded by a professional shredding company in the area. She said it is not necessary to remove staples and paper clips.
You can go through the line more than once, if you have additional items.
Paul Davis, an attorney with the Federal Trade Commission, will conduct a seminar from 9-11 a.m.
Registration for the seminar begins at 8:30 a.m. Those who register will receive information on detecting and preventing identification theft. Refreshments and door prizes also will be available.
Yeiser said there were more than 8.1 million cases of ID theft nationwide in 2007. That resulted in some $45 billion in losses.
"Over half of that was traced to some type of paper trail," Yeiser said.
That includes items that could be taken from your mailbox or garbage, or even from your own possession, she said.
"Only one-third of ID thefts occurred online or through some other electronic means," Yeiser said.
"It is extremely important for businesses to safely destroy personal information of their customers and employees and it is equally important for all residents to shred their sensitive documents."
She said identity theft can result in a long nightmare of problems, depending on how much damage the thief did with your identification, and how many places he or she purchased items from while using your identification.
The seminar, called "Stop Identity Theft," will be Thursday morning at the Florence-Lauderdale Coliseum.
A document shredding service will be available in conjunction with the seminar.
The seminar is presented by the Better Business Bureau of the Shoals, Listerhill Credit Union and University of North Alabama Small Business Development Center.
Christy Yeiser, regional vice president over the bureau in the Shoals, said each person can bring up to two bags or boxes of documents, checkbooks and files that have sensitive information. Those will be shredded by a professional shredding company in the area. She said it is not necessary to remove staples and paper clips.
You can go through the line more than once, if you have additional items.
Paul Davis, an attorney with the Federal Trade Commission, will conduct a seminar from 9-11 a.m.
Registration for the seminar begins at 8:30 a.m. Those who register will receive information on detecting and preventing identification theft. Refreshments and door prizes also will be available.
Yeiser said there were more than 8.1 million cases of ID theft nationwide in 2007. That resulted in some $45 billion in losses.
"Over half of that was traced to some type of paper trail," Yeiser said.
That includes items that could be taken from your mailbox or garbage, or even from your own possession, she said.
"Only one-third of ID thefts occurred online or through some other electronic means," Yeiser said.
"It is extremely important for businesses to safely destroy personal information of their customers and employees and it is equally important for all residents to shred their sensitive documents."
She said identity theft can result in a long nightmare of problems, depending on how much damage the thief did with your identification, and how many places he or she purchased items from while using your identification.
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