Thief Makes off with NYC Retirees’ Information

Posted on September 3, 2007 by Alex Drake

The personal financial data of almost 300,000 New York City retirees could be in the hands of identity thieves after a laptop was stolen from a midtown Manhattan restaurant.

The computer belonged to a private consultant working for the City’s Financial Information Services Agency.

The information possibly included the names, addresses, Social Security numbers and pension amounts.

There is potentially some good news for affected retires. It is believed that the sensitive information on the computer may have been encrypted. This has yet to be confirmed.

Source: “Laptop stolen containing city retirees’ data,” Aug. 23, New York Daily News.

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LifeLock Announce Partnership with Chicago Patrolmen’s Federal Credit Union

Posted on August 31, 2007 by Alex Drake

LifeLock announced a partnership with Chicago Patrolmen’s Federal Credit Union today. LifeLock will become the preferred identity theft prevention service for the members of CPFCU. LifeLock will offer a CPFCU significant savings to employees and members in order to protect their identity from thieves to guarantee their good names.

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Connecticut State Tax Office Looses Information on 106,000 Residents

Posted on August 30, 2007 by Alex Drake

The personal information of 106,000 Connecticut state taxpayers was put at risk when a laptop was stolen from the state’s Department of Revenue Services. The laptop contained the names and Social Security numbers of 10% of the state’s taxpayers.

The Department of Revenue Services has set up a toll-free number for victims and the state plans to launch a section on their web site for taxpayers to determine if they are affected by the theft. The web site will also attempt to educate victims on how to alert the three major credit reporting agencies.

If you believe you may have been affected by this incident please contact the Connecticut Department of Revenue Services or go to http://www.ct.gov/drs

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Identity Thief Caught on Bank Camera

Posted on August 25, 2007 by Alex Drake

Arapaho County, Colorado – A camera on an ATM was rolling when a woman tried using a stolen credit card to get a cash advance and now Crime Stoppers needs your help identifying her.

Arapahoe County Sheriff’s investigators say the woman entered the Wells Fargo near Dry Creek and Yosemite at 10:40 a.m. on August 21.

They say she tried to get a $5,000 cash advance using a stolen credit card.

Source: 9News.com

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California State Pension System Exposes SSNs on Brochures

Posted on August 24, 2007 by Alex Drake

California State Pension System Exposes Social Security Numbers on Print Brochures

The California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) exposed all or part of the recipient’s SSN on the address panel of a brochure sent to retirees. The error occurred when the staff did not recognize that the file contained social security numbers.

Approximately 445,000 retirees are affected.

Source: Apology sent over CalPERS privacy error, August 22, Sacramento Bee.

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CNN Classroom Edition: Identity Theft: How to Rob a Bank

Posted on August 24, 2007 by Alex Drake

“Record the CNN Presents Classroom Edition: Identity Theft: How to Rob a Bank when it airs commercial-free on Monday, August 27, 2007 from 4:00-5:00 a.m. ET on CNN. (A short feature begins at 4:00 a.m. and precedes the program.)

Program Overview:

If Bonnie and Clyde were alive today, they would not be using guns for their heists. Instead, they would probably use stolen identities — the modern method for looting bank accounts, laundering checks and defrauding credit card companies.

Drawing on documents from criminal cases, surveillance tapes and
immigration records, as well as interviews with law enforcement agents, victims and criminals, CNN Presents goes inside the murky world of identity theft to expose what the bandits do after stealing identities.

Source: cnn.com

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CNN Classroom Edition: Identity Theft: How to Rob a Bank

Posted on August 24, 2007 by Alex Drake

Record the CNN Presents Classroom Edition: Identity Theft: How to Rob a Bank when it airs commercial-free on Monday, August 27, 2007 from 4:00-5:00 a.m. ET on CNN. (A short feature begins at 4:00 a.m. and precedes the program.)

Program Overview

If Bonnie and Clyde were alive today, they would not be using guns for their heists. Instead, they would probably use stolen identities — the modern method for looting bank accounts, laundering checks and defrauding credit card companies.

Drawing on documents from criminal cases, surveillance tapes and
immigration records, as well as interviews with law enforcement agents, victims and criminals, CNN Presents goes inside the murky world of identity theft to expose what the bandits do after stealing identities.

Source: cnn.com

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Major Arrest Made In T.J. Maxx Identity Theft Case

Posted on August 24, 2007 by Alex Drake

A Ukranian man has been arrested in Turkey under suspicion of selling some of the information stolen from TJ Max (TJX). It is expected that this arrest will lead to the computer hackers who stole data containing at least 45 million credit card numbers from TJ Max (TJX).

Robert Mann was one of those whose credit card data was stolen. He spoke with investigators in February. “Transactions were made in Paris, South America, Africa, all over the world.”

To this day Mann is still trying to clean up his credit.

“They take out new credit in your name, but at a different address. So once they get that established, that may help them get a second credit card in your name, but not at your address, so it takes a long time to unravel really deep seeded credit card fraud,” said Dworsky.

For those who’ve been victimized, experts say this man’s arrest shows authorities are making progress. And while that won’t solve their financial woes, it may ensure that “someone” will pay a penalty.

There are many steps you can take to prevent becoming a victim of identity theft. Visit the U.S. Department of Justice’s Web site to learn how to protect yourself.

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Stolen Computer Equipment at Connecticut School Presents ID Theft Risk

Posted on August 23, 2007 by Alex Drake

A burglar broke into the IT department at Loomis Chaffee School in Windsor, Connecticut and stole computer equipment containing the personal information of several hundred past students.

The school notified victims in a letter sent August 3rd advising them to monitor their credit reports despite their claim that the data was encrypted.

Source: “Loomis Chaffee grads warned about potential identity theft after thieves steal school computer equipment,” Aug. 23, Journal Inquirer.

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Pfizer Suffers Second Breach in Two Months

Posted on August 22, 2007 by Alex Drake

Two laptops were stolen on May 31 from a locked car in Boston. The laptops were in the possession of management-consulting firm Axia Ltd.

The laptops contained the personal information of 950 health care
professionals – including taxpayer identification numbers, home and business addresses, telephone and fax numbers, email addresses and compensation information. The personal information belongs to health care professionals who were providing or considering providing, contract services for Pfizer.

Source: The Day of New London, Aug. 14, “Pfizer reports laptops stolen in second breach in two months”

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