Weekend I.D. Theft Blotter

This week's identity theft related stories from around the country:

• Alleged I.D. theft ring member gets job at gas station; allegedly steals over 500 customers' bank account and personal I.D. numbers associated with debit cards; ring used stolen information to make over $600,000 in fraudulent withdrawals (see Five indicted in identity-theft ring - Officials: Defendants stole bank info from Hanover gas station),
• I.D. theft suspect arrested; allegedly involved in phony mortgage company used to allegedly solicit personal I.D. info from over 100 unwitting customers (see Deputies arrest Vista fugitive),
• Cops arrest four in alleged "restaurant customer I.D. theft" scheme involving victimizing patrons who handed over credit cards to waiter to pay for meals; waiter then allegedly swiped cards through pager-sized "skimming" device that downloaded account holders' information (see Four arrested in Redondo identity theft case - Today: Redondo Beach police suspect four people of funding shopping sprees with credit card info from residents),
• While serving on Air Force bases in New Mexico and Japan, Illinois seviceman victimized by I.D. theft that currently links him to some 20 delinquent credit accounts, child support obligations to a woman he'd never heard of, and a string of felonies, including drug charge that kept him from landing a job after leaving the military (see While he served abroad, his credit was under siege).