Why you need to know about identity theft
USA Today has a very interesting read, involving crime, drugs, internet theft and dumpsters.
In Meth addicts’ other habit: Online theft, Byron Acohido and Jon Swartz tell a true story (names changed, of course…) of drug users progressing from petty theft to international identity theft ring in the eternal chase for the next fix.
Frank, 22, passionate, creative but easily manipulated, says he became a meth addict at age 14. He quickly demonstrated a high aptitude for committing fraud. A fellow addict who was an employee of Canadian cellphone company Rogers Communications showed him how to open new cellphone accounts over the phone and on the Internet, using data from customer records plucked from Rogers’ dumpsters. As a high school student, Frank had possession of stolen cellphones to use and sell. He soon advanced to using stolen credit card numbers to shop online. He found that he loved manipulating data on his computer almost as much as conning customer-service reps over the phone. “I needed to feed my drug habit and make a living,” Frank said in a phone interview from an Edmonton police station in October. “That’s when I began to look into using my PC.” Meth addicts’ other habit: Online theft — USA Today
The article is really worth a read and reads rather like a novel in parts. If you don’t know much about identity theft or aren’t at least wary about your private information, this piece might open your eyes.
Could be a best seller?
Blessings, Steve
[Listening to Victor Wooten, A Show Of Hands — Medley]
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
Both comments and pings are currently closed.
