Weekend I.D. Theft Blotter

The following identity theft stories this week caught my eye:

• Deceased car accident victim has identity stolen within a week after death (see Even death no defense against ID theft - Survivors should contact creditors immediately),
• Jury duty I.D. theft scam (see Identity theft scam linked to jury duty),
• U.S. Senate warns against I.D. theft by income tax preparers (see Grassley Urges Tougher Sanctions Against Tax Prep 'Sharks'),
• Alabama I.D. theft victim now has hassles with tax collector (see Montgomery Woman Fights IRS Over Alleged Identity Theft),
• The emergence of the identity theft protection industry (see Is ID theft protection worth it? - Make sure services have really got you covered),
• Texas Attorney General sues CVS Pharmacy for exposing customers to I.D. theft; employees at one store threw out hundreds of customer records into a store dumpster, records that included customers' names, addresses, Social Security numbers, credit card numbers, prescriptions and doctors (see CVS Pharmacy cited for exposing hundreds of customer records),
• Hospital billing service employee and another use stolen I.D information of more than 400 patients at midwest hospitals in tax refund scam (see Man sentenced in identity theft and tax fraud),
• Alleged I.D theft ring accused of hiring waiters and waitresses to steal credit card info from restaurant customers by use of small skimming devices; ring accused of making millions of dollars of credit card charges, over 1000 victims identified (see Authorities indicted 13 in alleged identity theft ring),
• Over two dozen supermarket customers tell cops that they are victims of I.D. theft ring that tampered with a personal identification number, or PIN, keypad at check-out line (Supermarket identity theft case expands to Alameda store),
• Credit freeze laws have been passed and go into effect in 12 more states and D.C. in 2007 (see Innovative Credit Freeze Laws Tackle Identity Theft: Credit Reports Access is Reinvented),
• Local Sartell, Minnesota community group sponsors "Senior Shred Day" to promote battle against I.D. theft (see To do: Event help seniors avoid identity theft),
• Two Yakima, Washington area retailers promote "Shred Day" to highlight battle against I.D. theft (see Shredding is Key to Preventing Identity Theft),
• City of Cape Coral, Florida and Riverside Bank consider promoting regular “Shred Day” events to battle I.D. theft (see Protect yourself against identity theft),
• Washington's Law Enforcement Group Against Identity Theft is organizing 29 "Shred Day" events throughout the state to battle I.D. theft (see Free shredding offered to help prevent identity theft)

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