Weekend I.D. Theft Blotter

Some of the highlights of the week's identity theft stories follow:

• Former Florida nurse arrested for I.D. theft; accused of assuming patient's identity, making over $62,000 in purchases in his name (see Ex-nurse accused of identity theft - More than $62,000 in purchases made in patient's name, authorities say),
• Data entry clerk at NYC government Children's Services office used her work computer to access confidential records belonging to children, sold the information to co-conspirator / tax preparer, who then used the information to fraudulently claim the children as dependents on tax returns that he prepared for his clients (see ACS worker sentenced in identity theft: City),
• I.D. Theft / Grave Robbery - Story of a man who, during 72 years of life, had only two credit cards. Over the two weeks following his death, the man's sister discovered 21 credit applications made in her brother's name (see Scam Alert: Grave Robbery - Even the dead can be victims of identity theft),
• Car salesman conspires with auto buyer in sale of vehicles using stolen identity (see Car salesman held in identity theft scheme),
• Identity theft lands innocent victim in jail (click here for KOMO-TV Video)
• Washington State conducts statewide Shred-a-thon to promote battle against I.D. theft (see Washington State To Have Its First Statewide "Shred-A-Thon"),
• Lawyer Gets 3+ years in jail for flipping fraud involving I.D. theft (see Disbarred lawyer sentenced to 3 1/2 years in jail),
• I.D. theft victims can end up with both damaged credit and criminal record (see Consumer Watch: Criminal Identity Theft) or see WCBS-TV Channel 2 Video.
• Woman accused of using stolen identities to secretly purchase homes in I.D. theft victims' names (see Case grows against Shakopee woman accused of ID theft),
• Mortgage broker convicted of using stolen identities of recently deceased people to cheat mortgage lender and steal over $1.2 million (see Man guilty of using identities of dead people),
• Detailed article on I.D. theft scams - ie. jury duty scam, cash back scam, failed Medicare Part D prescription scam, mailbox theft, Internet lottery scam, use of small electronic storage devices to obtain credit card info, diverting billing statements to another location by completing postal change of address form, “shoulder surfers”, blank charge receipts scam, and others (see Law enforcement, seniors groups fight back against criminals targeting the elderly),
• Shred-it, Office Depot and Crime Stoppers USA promote identity theft fight; organize 2007 USA National Community Shred campaign. Events held at 100 Office Depot stores across the country on April 28, 2007 (see Shred-it, Office Depot and Crime Stoppers Join Forces to Help Combat Identity Theft )

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