Identity Theft Secrets » Identity Theft Solutions

Identity theft makes strange bedfellows

Lisa Carey — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 11:46:14 +0000

Swiper no swiping! This story of identity theft reminds me of the story where “Dora the Explorer” traveled around the work to share her friendship bracelets and encountered a number of thieves in every country that were trying to steal her friendship bracelets. Okay, yes I have children but when you hear the details about what is being called the largest identity theft bust of its kind in the United States you may see the similarities.

Reports of 111 suspects, including 25 people that are being sought in connection for these crimes were targeted for their involvement in “Operation Swiper.” While arrested by authorities in New York, this identity theft ring came from across the globe with connections to Russia, India, China, the Middle East, Europe and Africa. Their take was approximately 13 million dollars stolen from victims in Europe and the United States. Queens County District Attorney calls it “called it the largest and perhaps most sophisticated ring of its kind in U.S. history.”

How did Operation Swiper work?

“The schemes and the imagination of these thieves is mind boggling,” said New York City Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly at a press conference. “These crimes are getting more sophisticated and thieves have amazing knowledge of how to use technology.”

First the crime ring began with blank credit cards received from suppliers in Russia, Libya, China and Lebanon. Next they hired people to pretend to be waiters and retail workers so thaty they could use electronic devices to steal information from credit cards in use at these establishments. The information was imprinted, and forged credit cards and state Driver’s Licenses were made to match in case of being asked to provide a valid form of photo I.D.

According to NYPD deputy inspector Gregory Antonsen, “They can actually make a license from any state in the union, print credit cards of any color and even put the holograms on there.”

Cards in hand these credit card and identity thieves would head out on expensive shopping sprees at places like Best, Buy, Gucci, Macy’s and Nordstrom’s. After making their purchases they would then sell those items to people overseas who normally couldn’t find these types of high end products.

Guess what the most popular item to buy (steal) and sell was? Apple products. Of course other high end items computers, watches and fancy handbags from Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Rolexe and Breitling were in high demand.

According to authorities in New York, forging credit cards in the United States is easier than in Europe. Credit cards overseas are more sophisticating including a computer chip that must be used to activate and use the card. No chip, no card, no sale.

The sting on Operation Swiper

The suspects were caught after an approximately two year-long investigation which included wire taps, search warrants. Investigators overheard conversations held in several languages and translated them from Arabic, Mandarian and Russion to English to gain information for the sting.

During the “take down” police reportedly seized “$650,000 in cash, Apple computer products worth tens of thousands of dollars, $850,000 worth of computer equipment stolen from the Citigroup Building in Queens, seven handguns and a truck full of electronics, computers, designer shoes, watches and identity theft equipment.”

What do you think? Identity theft definitely makes strange bedfellows. In some cases you can’t get people from different cultures to agree on what meal to eat let alone conduct a crime of this magnitude. Personally, I think a few world politicians may be able to learn a thing or two from them.

Sources

CNN

Business World

San Francisco Examiner

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The Foster Youth Financial Security Act: Protecting foster children from identity theft

Lisa Carey — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 16:16:51 +0000

One study has highlighted that as many as half of the children in foster care in California have been victims of identity theft. Rhode Island Rep. Jim Langevin has introduced a bill, The Foster Youth Financial Security Act, to help protect children in foster care from identity theft and other hurdles that impede their financial success.

Foster children already have obstacles in their way including the lack of continuity of care and the stigma of being a foster child. When children transition out of foster care to live on their own, Rep. Langevin says, “They shouldn’t have to struggle to find credit or fix credit just as they are leaving custody to live on their own.”

This latest bill introduced by Rep. Langevin is just one part of a big move to overhaul the foster care system in Rhode Island. Following a study released in March by The Children’s Advocacy Institute entitled: “The Fleecing of Foster Children: How We Confiscate Their Assets and Undermine Their Financial Security,” Rep. Langevin told a roundtable of parties interested in the foster care system that “research shows that current and former foster youth are more likely to forego higher education, be in poor health, become homeless, and rely on public supports as adults. I believe we can – and must – change these statistics.”

Rep. Jim Langevin admits that the number of foster care children in Rhode Island or across the country that have been victims of identity theft is really unknown but the California study is alarming. “It’s a problem that’s just now attracting attention,” he said.

Why are foster children targets of identity theft?

For foster children, their social security numbers and personal information is handled so frequently by officials, family and foster parents and they are too young to realize they are victims. In most cases, identity theft of foster children, like childhood identity theft in general is perpetrated by a relative. Relatives sometimes use the child’s identity to obtain credit cards, utilities or loans.

Lisa Guillette, executive director of the Rhode Island Foster Parents Association foster children won’t know they’ve been victims until they try to open a bank account.

What does the Foster Youth Financial Security Bill call for?

This legislation requires state agencies to review credit reports for all foster children and to take action to resolve any inaccuracies.

Additionally the bill calls for agencies to ensure that youth leave foster care with necessary documents, state benefits and financial aid and an account for the youth’s finances.

“At the very least, we want to make sure they enter adulthood with a clean slate,’’ Rep. Langevin said.

If passed, Rhode Island will become the fourth state behind California, Colorado and Connecticut, to have a law requiring credit checks to be run on children.

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Jonathan — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 22:34:07 +0000

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Jonathan — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 17:34:07 +0000

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Three Ways Identity Thieves Find Your Phone Number

guestpost — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 08:00:47 +0000

When it comes to identity theft, every individual in the world is at risk. This criminal practice has been going on for countless years and the number of victims continues to grow.

Some reports claim that as many as 10 million people are subject to identity theft every single year. Many times, this information is used to simply promote spam messages and illegal advertisements. Unfortunately, it can also be used to irrevocably ruin a person’s credit and potentially their life. An active phone number can be sold to illicit advertisers and scam artists who want to make a phone call in order to try to get more information.

Of course getting a phone number is relatively simple. However, when combined with other pieces of information about you, your phone number can become quite valuable.

Here are a few of the ways in which identity thieves illegally gain the phone numbers of innocent individuals and add it to other (more potentially harmful) pieces of information, to assemble a picture of who you are.

Dumpster Diving
One of the easiest and most popular forms of accessing private information has been deemed dumpster diving. While the world continues its shift towards digitized information, vast amounts of information are still sent through generic letters, bills, and notices. For many, it becomes troublesome to tear, shred, and destroy the massive amounts of mail received every single day. This leaves the opportunity wide open for criminals to look through the trash of individuals, searching for private information in dumpsters.

Skimming
Another common (but riskier) attempt at stealing private information is called skimming. Credit and debit cards are increasingly being used for everyday purchases. To make a purchase, these cards must be put through devices or scanners to access account information. This is a perfect chance for illicit parties to use fake hardware to scan bank cards which can give them full access to your personal information. These phone and bank account numbers can then be sold for illegal uses.

Phishing
This form of stealing information has become alarmingly popular in recent years as scam artists and criminals have evolved with their strategies, making them highly effective. Phishing can be carried out in multiple ways, but it is a blanket term for any person or group which hides or pretends to be someone else in order to steal information. These criminals are looking for private information such as passwords, user IDs, and phone numbers. The most wide scale use of phishing involves sending out fabricated emails in the guise of credit card companies, banks, and other financial institutions. Victims will then follow links or input private information to access what they believe to be legitimate websites.

As the average person begins to make more purchases, take on loans, acquire credit cards, or even just move forward in life, their private information becomes readily accessible to identity thieves.

While identity theft continues to grow, being aware of ways in which your information can be stolen gives you a way to keep your eyes and ears open. Knowing that your information can be easily stolen and used, and taking steps (not out of fear, but out of preparedness) can go a long way to helping you resolve the problem if and when it happens to you.

Steven Farrell wrote this article as a guest poster for IdentityTheftSecrets. Steven is the administrator of ReversePhoneLookup.org, a site where you can perform a reverse phone lookup for as little as $1.

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Schneier on Security

Jonathan — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 17:33:56 +0000

Presenting invaluable advice from the world?s most famous computer security expert, this intensely readable collection features some of the most insightful and informative coverage of the strengths and weaknesses of computer security and the price people pay -- figuratively and literally — when security fails. Discussing the issues surrounding things such as airplanes, passports, voting machines, ID cards, cameras, passwords, Internet banking, sporting events, computers, and castles, this book is a must-read for anyone who values security at any level — business, technical, or personal.

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