Busted - 5.7 Million Dollars Worth of High Tech Gear

If you are a victim of this crime, or a similar crime, contact the FBI as indicated in the URL below!!!

Here's a pretty sure fire way to end up in jail.....

This guy somehow
- got valid serial numbers for Cisco equipment that he did not own
- bought a contract for that equipment
- claimed the equipment failed
- (This part is assumed) Cisco likely shipped him the replacement equipment with a legal notice that he had to return the failed equipment
- he turned around and sold the new equipment on E-Bay walkinf away with the cash

Cisco, and whoever bought the equipment off of ebay, is victimized, and the guy tries to walk with 5.7 million dollars. No mention of identity theft or redirect funds etc....but it's a good bet if this went on for a while that some of these tricks were used.

http://www.networkworld.com/community/node/22850?ts0hb=&story=htbox

TJMAX Settle's ID Theft Case

I brought up the TJ Max ID theft in a post in March 30th. Today they have settled with banks for 41 Million dollars!!!! This case should be used as a benchmark for retailers who put little or no thought into how well they protect their customers financial and personal information.

http://www.darkreading.com/document.asp?doc_id=140563&WT.svl=news1_5

The New Bonnie and Cylde - right

Ever wonder who is capable of identity theft. Some shadowy figure sitting in a dark dank Romanian basement, accessing Internet servers that have received stolen ID's from botnets?

Here's a new twist. How about your next door neighbors who looks like they should be posing in magazines!!!

http://www.abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=3968349&page=1

Old Scam Resurfaces - Jury Duty ID Theft

Be careful of this one. This is a phone scam where callers pretend to be officers of the court, they say you missed jury duty and then start asking for personal information so they can clear things up and keep you from getting arrested. Result - your ID is stolen.

Your response should be to hang up and contact the courts yourself. Also let the court know of the attempt to steal your ID and they will give you guidance on how to report the incident.

http://www.fbi.gov/page2/june06/jury_scams060206.htm

Biggest Identity Theft Ever!!!

It happens folks. TJ Max reported the largest identity theft ever. If you are a customer keep a very close eye on any account or credit card that may be exploited.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Identity-Theft-Problems-for-TJ-Max-and-Marshalls-Customers&id=431633

A new HIGH for LOWS for Internet Crime

One of the first reported extortion attemps for the internet in 2007 involves sending life threatening emails and demanding money. Another reason to give thanks for IC3.gov. BTW I am not associated with IC3 in anyway, but it seems all significant fraud related information seems to have them as a source or a stop point. My hats are off to these folks.

http://www.ic3.gov/media/2007/070109.htm

UCLA Fraud Alert

Internet based fraud is alive and well. If you are affiliated with, or have provided any financial information to the University of California Los Angeles, you need to take a look at the following URL. Hackers were able to gain access and steal financial information of up to 20,000 individuals. If you think you may be victim of this fraud you should contact http://www.identityalert.ucla.edu/

Huge kudos go out to UCLA for making this breach public and making people aware that their information may have been stolen.

Internet Fraud Is a Crime - Report It!!!

It seems to be human nature that if we are defrauded in some way or another and the damage incurred by the fraud is not extensive, we just tend to let it go. I completely understand this and have to admit that I have been guilty of it from time to time. But after speaking with authorities, such as law enforcement agencies, and Internet Fraud Attorneys that enforce Internet fraud laws, I have completely changed my mind set.

There are thousands of people that are committing fraud of one sort or another on the Internet. Every year hundreds of these people walk because of technicalities or evidence against them that is insufficient. If there were more reports and more evidence against these criminals, many of them would not be walking free to victimized other people such as yourself. It's up to all of us to protect our families financial security from these individuals.

If you believe you are a victim of Internet fraud or any Internet crime, contact your local law enforcement agency to see how they recommend moving forward with a complaint. At the very least use the Web services of the FBI and the Internet Crime Complaint Center.

http://www.ic3.gov/