| Identity fraudsters are watching you
Some months ago major supermarkets put out a notice warning its loyalty cardholders to watch out for devious operators with intentions of swindling them. Apparently some con artists masquerading as sales representatives were attempting to get bank account information from card holders by sending hoax text messages informing them of having won prizes from the supermarket chain. "Smart Card holders must exercise caution before releasing any information to any party and beware that Nakumatt does not seek any bank account information from any customer," warned one of the alerts. The Nakumatt caveat was just one of the many similar forewarnings that consumers are becoming accustomed to as cases of fraud become rampant. Identity (ID) theft or fraud, which is one of the bloodless forms of crime, is slowly taking root in the country.
Arizona 'Most Wanted' caught on I-5
State Trooper Michael D. Kesler says 39-year-old Larry A. Hayes gave a false Washington driver�s license when he was stopped early Friday for speeding. He was clocked at 74 mph in a 50 mph zone in a Mercedes on southbound Interstate 5. Kesler says Hayes claimed to be David Wayne Matthews. He was jailed when that could not be confirmed, and fingerprints revealed his true identity on Saturday. A passenger, 24-year-old Kyndale Ogara of Tacoma, was arrested on a forgery warrant from Pierce County. Hayes had been sought in more than 900 cases of possession of stolen property, identity theft and fraud-related crimes � including 800 in Pierce County. Kesler says he also is under investigation in Idaho and Oregon. .
Man on Arizona's 'Most Wanted" list caught near Chehalis
Man on Arizona's 'Most Wanted" list caught near Chehalis THE ASSOCIATED PRESS CHEHALIS, Wash. -- A man on Arizonas "Most Wanted" list has been caught near Chehalis. State Trooper Michael D. Kesler says 39-year-old Larry A. Hayes gave a false Washington driver's license when he was stopped early Friday for speeding. He was clocked at 74 mph in a 50 mph zone in a Mercedes on southbound Interstate 5. Kesler says Hayes claimed to be David Wayne Matthews. He was jailed when that could not be confirmed, and fingerprints revealed his true identity on Saturday. A passenger, 24-year-old Kyndale Ogara of Tacoma, was arrested on a forgery warrant from Pierce County. Hayes had been sought in more than 900 cases of possession of stolen property, identity theft and fraud-related crimes - including 800 in Pierce County.
Officials: Take action to prevent identity theft
Anyone can become a victim of identity theft.Each year, identity theft affects about 9 million Americans, according to information released by the Federal Trade Commission. In fact, the problem is so widespread that President George W. Bush recently commissioned a task force to identify solutions to the issue.The April 2007 report, titled "Combating Identity Theft: A Strategic Plan," concluded that reducing opportunities for identity theft and increasing public awareness were two of the most vital steps in reducing the number of victims."Only a comprehensive and fully coordinated strategy to combat identity theft — one that encompasses effective prevention, public awareness and education, victim assistance, and law enforcement measures, and that fully engages federal, state, and local authorities and the private sector — will have any chance of solving the problem," the report said.Last year, more than 17,700 fraud and identity theft cases were reported in Florida, according to a recent press release from the Florida Attorney General's Office.
Identity theft common around Holidays
Identity theft crimes hit home for more than eight million adults in the US in 2005, according to a new report from the federal trade commission. In ten percent of cases, victims surveyed said they paid at least $1,200 to settle charges to stolen or fraudulent credit cards or bank accounts. Add to that the hours they spent repairing their credit reports. Nearly 40 percent of victims reported being harassed by debt collectors, denied credit or loans, having utilities cut off -- even getting sued. And more than half of victims said they still don't know how the thieves got a hold of their personal information. Experts at the non-profit identity theft resource center say the holidays are prime time for thieves. They recommend you leave your social security card at home -- don't carry it in your wallet.
Offshoring: Met and CBC unite against cyber crime
The Metropolitan Police and the Commonwealth Business Council (CBC) have joined forces to set up a working party to tackle the increasing threat of global cyber crime especially in offshoring companies. The main aim of the working party will be to increase the co-operation between members of the commonwealth to exchange best practices on tackling specialist crime such as identity theft and compromised data security. Mark Kobayashi-Hillary, global research director of CBC Technologies, said: "The Commonwealth is a voluntary group of 53 nations which just happens to include all the major nations offering offshore outsourcing services such as IT and contact centres. We would like to invite governments, private sector and trade bodies from across the world to join this very important initiative." The recent spate of cases involving identity theft and compromised data security in offshore call centres emphasises the need for government and industry collaboration at an international level, according to the CBC.
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