The Metro Richmond Identity Theft Task Force; Press Room

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UPCOMING EVENTS!

TASK FORCE PRESS RELEASES

ID Theft Task Force Launches “Operation Check Fraud” Fake Check Campaign
March 12, 2010; US Postal Inspection Service and the VA Office of Attorney General

Richmond Married Couple Plead Guilty to Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft
February 26, 2010; United States Attorney's Office - Eastern District of Virginia

WRVA Radio interview with US Attorney Neil MacBride regarding ID Theft and the Metro Richmond ID Theft Task Force
WRVA 1140AM - Richmond's Morning News with Jimmy Barrett / February 2, 2010

Leader of $1.5 Million ID Theft Ring Sentenced 200 Months in Prison
January 22, 2010; United States Attorney's Office - Eastern District of Virginia

Ringleader in $1.4 Million ID Theft Ring Sentenced to 136 Months
November 13, 2009; United States Attorney's Office - Eastern District of Virginia

Defendant Sentenced to More than Seven Years in Identity Theft Scheme
October 23, 2009; United States Attorney's Office - Eastern District of Virginia

D.C. Doctors’ Receptionist Pleads Guilty in $2 Million ID Theft Ring
September 8, 2009; United States Attorney's Office - Eastern District of Virginia

Fourth Person Pleads Guilty in $2 Million ID Theft Ring
September 3, 2009; United States Attorney's Office - Eastern District of Virginia

Business Owner Sentenced to 100 Years for His Role in Scheme to Defraud Clients of Funds Allegedly Held in Trust (USPIS Mail Fraud Team)
August 4, 2009; United States Attorney's Office - Eastern District of Virginia

Ringleader in $2 Million ID Theft Ring Pleads Guilty
July 22, 2009; United States Attorney's Office - Eastern District of Virginia

Richmond Woman Sentenced for Bank Fraud and Identity Theft of Elderly Woman
July 14, 2009; United States Attorney's Office - Eastern District of Virginia

Three Defendants Plead Guilty to Conspiracy and $600,000 Bank Fraud Scheme
May 20, 2009; United States Attorney's Office - Eastern District of Virginia

Defendant Sentenced in Check Cashing Scheme
April 28, 2009; United States Attorney's Office - Eastern District of Virginia

Credit Card Department Manager Sentenced for Bank Fraud and Identity Theft
April 27, 2009; United States Attorney's Office - Eastern District of Virginia

Business Owner Convicted In $126 Million Scheme To Defraud Clients (USPIS Mail Fraud Team)
March 19, 2009; United States Attorney's Office - Eastern District of Virginia

Sentencing of Inmate For ID Theft and Bank Fraud Scheme Coordinated From a Federal Correctional Institute
March 4, 2009; United States Attorney's Office - Eastern District of Virginia

RICHMOND ID THEFT TASK FORCE RECEIVES TASK FORCE OF THE YEAR AWARD
August 26, 2008; Metro Richmond Identity Theft Task Force

Indictment in Ongoing ID Theft Scheme Coordinated From a Federal Correctional Institute
August 5, 2008; United States Attorney's Office - Eastern District of Virginia

Suspect Arrested With Stolen Mail in Beaverdam/Montpelier Area
July 17, 2008; US Postal Inspection Service/Hanover County Sheriff's Office

Two Defendants Sentenced in Identity Theft Scheme
June 19, 2008; United States Attorney's Office - Eastern District of Virginia

Two Plead Guilty to Federal Bank Fraud Conspiracy and Identity Theft Charges
June 13, 2008; United States Attorney's Office - Eastern District of Virginia

Philadelphia Man Sentenced for Federal Bank Fraud Conspiracy and Identity Theft Charges
March 21, 2008; United States Attorney's Office - Eastern District of Virginia

Business Owner Indicted in $132 Million Scheme to Defraud Clients of Funds Allegedly Held in Trust (USPIS Mail Fraud Team)
March 18, 2008; United States Attorney's Office - Eastern District of Virginia

Additional Defendants Indicted for Their Involvement in Identity Theft Schemes
March 5, 2008; United States Attorney's Office - Eastern District of Virginia

Two Defendants Plead Guilty in Identity Theft Scheme
February 28, 2008; United States Attorney's Office - Eastern District of Virginia

Two Romanian Nationals Plead Guilty in Connection With Federal Identity Theft Investigation
January 23, 2008; United States Attorney's Office - Eastern District of Virginia

Sentencing in Bank Fraud and Identity Theft Scheme That Netted Over $600,000
January 22, 2008; United States Attorney's Office - Eastern District of Virginia

Mechanicsville Accountant Sentenced Federally To Five Years For Embezzling Over $800,000
January 15, 2008; United States Attorney's Office - Eastern District of Virginia

Philadelphia Man Pleads Guilty To Federal Bank Fraud Conspiracy And Identity Theft Charges
December 17, 2007; United States Attorney's Office - Eastern District of Virginia

Six Defendants Plead Guilty as Part of “Felony Lane Gang” Presence in Richmond
December 5, 2007; United States Attorney's Office - Eastern District of Virginia

Mechanicsville Woman Sentenced Federally to Three Years for Embezzlement
November 6, 2007; United States Attorney's Office - Eastern District of Virginia

Richmond Woman Pleads Guilty to Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft
October 17, 2007; United States Attorney's Office - Eastern District of Virginia

Waynesboro Man Sentenced To Three Years For Threatening A Witness In United States District Court
September 19, 2007; United States Attorney's Office - Eastern District of Virginia

Six Defendants Indicted For Bank Fraud As Part of Florida-Based "Felony Lane Gang"
June 26, 2007; United States Attorney's Office - Eastern District of Virginia

Five Defendant's Indicted In Hanover County Identity Theft Ring
May 30, 2007; United States Attorney's Office - Eastern District of Virginia

Identity Theft Victims and Law Enforcement Officers Recognized During National Crime Victims' Rights Week
April 25, 2007; United States Attorney's Office - Eastern District of Virginia

Victims' Rights Week Event in Richmond, VA
April 24, 2007; United States Attorney's Office - Eastern District of Virginia

Former Law Office Secretary Indicted for Identity Theft, Bank Fraud, Wire Fraud, and Access Device Fraud Charges
March 15, 2007; United States Attorney's Office - Western District of Virginia

North Carolina Man Pleads Guilty to Aggravated Identity Theft
February 28, 2007; United States Attorney's Office - Eastern District of Virginia

Six Defendants Plead Guilty To Identity Theft Charges As A Result Of “Operation Reconcile”
January 24, 2007; United States Attorney's Office - Eastern District of Virginia

Two Richmond Men Sentenced for Bank Fraud and Identity Theft
January 10, 2007; United States Attorney's Office - Eastern District of Virginia

Defendants Sentenced for Internet-Based Wire Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft
November 27, 2006; United States Attorney's Office - Eastern District of Virginia

Identity Thief Sentenced to More Than Ten Years In Multi-State Scheme
November 15, 2006; United States Attorney's Office - Eastern District of Virginia

Fifty-One Defendants Indicted in Federal Identity Theft Round Up Known as "OPERATION RECONCILE"
November 14, 2006; United States Attorney's Office - Eastern District of Virginia

Mother and Daughter Sentenced Federally In Connection With West End Identity Theft Ring
November 13, 2006; United States Attorney's Office - Eastern District of Virginia

Richmond Man Sentenced Federally In Connection With West End Identity Theft Ring
November 8, 2006; United States Attorney's Office - Eastern District of Virginia

Letter to the editor in response to Richmond Times-Dispatch article: "Rob a bank, you may do some time; steal an identity, not so likely", (9/26/06).
September 28, 2006; United States Attorney's Office - Eastern District of Virginia

Multi-Million Dollar Ponzi Investment Scheme Shutdown (USPIS Mail Fraud Team)
September 28, 2006; United States Attorney's Office - Eastern District of Virginia

Richmond Man Sentenced For Identification Fraud and Counterfeiting Alien Registration Cards
August 17, 2006; United States Attorney - Eastern District of Virginia

Louisa Woman Used Driver's License, Checks, Stolen Mail to Steal Identities
August 2, 2006; Virignia - Office of the Attorney General

Three Family Members Plead Guilty In Connection With West End Identity Theft Ring
August 1, 2006; United States Attorney - Eastern District of Virginia

Two Men Convicted of Scamming an Elderly Richmond Resident Will Spend Time in Prison
May 31, 2006; Richmond Police Department

Loan Underwriter Pleads Guilty to Fraud and Identity Theft
May 9, 2006; United States Attorney - Eastern District of Virginia

Sentencing of Marilyn Roberson for Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud
February 22, 2006; United States Attorney - Eastern District of Virginia

McDonnell Highlights National Consumer Protection Week
February 6, 2006; Virginia - Office of the Attorney General

14 Individuals Indicted in Connection With Conspiracy to Defraud Banks and Credit Unions
August 17, 2005; United States Attorney - Eastern District of Virginia

UPCOMING TASK FORCE EVENTS

THERE ARE NO UPCOMING EVENTS TO REPORT AT THIS TIME...CHECK BACK WITH US SOON!

PERIODICALS/ARTICLES

Kansas City Identity Theft & Economic Crimes Newsletter - March 2010
Kansas City Identity Theft & Economic Crimes Task Force / March 2010

Identity Theft - Growing and Deadly
Joan Tupponce / Boomer Life Magazine / April-May 2008

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service: A Leader in the Fight Against Identity Theft
Loreal Bond / The NW3C Informant / July 2007 (used with permission/NW3C © 2007)

Richmond (VA) Police Are Doing Their Part to Fight Identity Theft
Loreal Bond / The NW3C Informant / July 2007 (used with permission/NW3C © 2007)

Richmond Launches Identity Theft Campaign
Inspection Service News / July 2007

U.S. Postal Inspectors: Partners in the Investigation of Identity Theft and Crimes Involving the U.S. Mail
Lee R. Heath, Chief Postal Inspector / Police Chief Magazine / March 2005

LOCAL ID THEFT NEWS

Man who recruited homeless in fraud scheme gets 37-month term
Frank Green (Times-Dispatch) / TimesDispatch.com / April 10, 2009

Identity-theft complaints rise in Va.
Iris Taylor (Times-Dispatch) / TimesDispatch.com / March 26, 2009

Virginians get notice of card-data breach
Iris Taylor (Times-Dispatch) / TimesDispatch.com / March 4, 2009

Scammers abuse business credibility to earn victims trust
WWBT NBC12 / NBC12.com / August 9, 2008

Governor Kaine Announces Legislation to Protect Consumers from Credit Fraud
Office of the Governor of VA / January 3, 2008

Computer Crime on the Rise
Staff / CBS 6 WTVR.com / December 11, 2007

Fighting Back Against ID Theft
Staff / WTVR.com / June 5, 2006

Louisa County Woman Accused Of Identity Theft
Staff / WTVR.com / May 11, 2006

Identity Theft On The Rise
Staff / WRIC.com / February 6, 2006

Protecting Consumers From Identity Theft
Associated Press / WTVR.com / January 4, 2006

Identity Theft: What is it? Can it happen to you? The chances are greater than you think.
Libby McNamee / Richmond.com / May 20, 2004

NATIONAL ID THEFT NEWS

Bernanke Victimized by Identity Fraud Ring
Michael Isikoff / NEWSWEEK / August 25, 2009
*THIS CASE WAS INVESTIGATED BY MEMBERS OF THE METRO RICHMOND ID THEFT TASK FORCE.

130 MILLION Credit Cards Compromised In Data Breach
Joe Weisenthal / CNN Money.com / August 17, 2009

Weak security enables credit card hacks
JORDAN ROBERTSON (AP Technology Writer) / Yahoo! News.com / June 14, 2009

Government cracking down on mortgage scams
ALAN ZIBEL and CHRISTOPHER S. RUGABER (AP Business Writers) / Yahoo! News.com / April 6, 2009

An 11-Year-Old With Bad Credit? Mother Fights for Son's Identity
Staff / ABC News.com / April 1, 2009

Internet crime jumps by a third last year
Carol Cratty / CNN.com / March 30, 2009

States take growing role in cyber crimefighting
Ben Bain / FederalComputerWeek.com / March 30, 2009

FBI Uncovers Worldwide $9M ATM Card Scam
Staff / Fox News.com / February 3, 2009

Identity Theft Case Said to be the Largest and Most Complex Ever Charged in the U.S.
Casey Mayville / Government Technology.com / July 14, 2008

Student grifter admits $116K fraud in Pa. ID theft
Maryclaire Dale (AP) / Yahoo News / July 14, 2008

ID-protection ads come back to bite pitchman
Jordan Robertson (AP) / MSNBC.com / May 22, 2008

38 Individuals in U.S. and Romania Charged in Two Related Cases of Computer Fraud Involving International Organized Crime
Yahoo! News.com / May 19, 2008

Corpse Wheeled to Check-Cashing Store Leads to 2 Arrests
Bruce Lambert and Christine Hauser / The NY Times / January 9, 2008

Record Data Breaches in 2007
Mark Jewell(AP) / Time Magazine / December 30, 2007

ITRC Reports On ID Theft in '07, Predictions for '08
Security Products Online / December 28, 2007

Help Me Hank: Fraudulent funds
Hank Phillippi Ryan / WHDH News 7 Boston / December 11, 2007

Justice details grants to help victims of ID theft
Andrew Noyes / Government Executive.com / December 10, 2007

Police: Pair financed fun with ID theft
Maryclaire Dale, AP / Yahoo! News / December 3, 2007

Attempted Check Fraud Doubles to $12.2 Billion According to ABA Survey
The American Bankers Association / ABA.com / November 27, 2007

Who pays for bank check fraud? You do.
Bob Sullivan / MSNBC.com / October 3, 2007

A-List Stars Targeted In Phila. ID Theft Ring
CBS 3 Philadelphia / August 4, 2007

Identity Theft - A Research Review
US Dept of Justice-National Institute of Justice / July 2007

Thieves steal Herman Munster's identity
Ted Bridis / Associated Press / June 20, 2007

When ID thieves strike, take control of financial security
Asa Aarons / New York Daily News / April 6, 2007

Corporate Owner of T.J. Maxx, Marshall's Says Information for 45.7 Million Cardholders Stolen
Associated Press / FoxNews.com / March 29, 2007

Employees from hell: Undercover identity thief
Phaedra Hise, FSB contributor / CNNMoney.com / March 8, 2007

U.S. Department of Education Office of Inspector General Launches New DVD: 'Identity Theft: It's Not Worth It'
U.S. Dept of Education / ED.Gov / January 18, 2007

T.J. Maxx, Marshalls Operator Reports Customer ID Thefts After Hacking Detected
Associated Press / FoxNews.com / January 18, 2007

Financial Freedom "Identity Theft" Information
Financial Freedom / WTVR.com / November 11, 2006

Hotel Key Cards: Identity Theft Risk or Not?
Martin H. Bosworth / ConsumerAffairs.com / October 15, 2006

FBI seeks stolen personal data on 26 million vets: Gonzales, VA secretary say no indication of misuse
Staff / CNN.com / June 23, 2006

Fact Sheet: The President's Identity Theft Task Force
The White House / Whitehouse.gov / May 10, 2006

Street Gangs Cashing In On ID Theft: Postal Inspector
Staff / ConsumerAffairs.com / April 20, 2006

Keep your online job search in-line: Things to be aware of when searching the Web for a job
Mike Hargis / CNN.com / April 7, 2006

ID theft concerns grow, tools lacking
Bob Sullivan / MSNBC.com / June 23, 2005

States consider laws to put ID theft on ice
Bob Sullivan / MSNBC.com / March 23, 2005

WSJ's Health Journal: Identity thieves find ways to target patients
Kevin Helliker / The Wall Street Journal / February 23, 2005

ChoicePoint Breach Worse Than First Reported
Staff / ConsumerAffairs.com / February 22, 2005

ID theft again tops the list of FTC complaints
Bob Sullivan / MSNBC.com / February 1, 2005

The secret list of ID theft victims
Bob Sullivan / MSNBC.com / January 29, 2005

9.3 million ID theft victims last year
Bob Sullivan / MSNBC.com / January 26, 2005

Free credit reports may reveal surprises
Bob Sullivan / MSNBC.com / November 30, 2004

Recovering from identity theft
Deshundra Jefferson / CNN/Money / July 29, 2004

Consumers still falling for phish
Bob Sullivan / MSNBC.com / July 27, 2004

Bush signs law to stiffen ID theft penalties
Bob Sullivan / MSNBC.com / July 15, 2004

ID THEFT PUBLICATIONS

5 Key Tips to Prevent ID Theft from the Theft Task Force
Metro Richmond Identity Theft Task Force

"Identity Crisis" video
The United States Postal Inspection Service

Identity Theft: Safeguard Your Personal Information
United States Postal Inspection Service

Don't Be a Victim of a Check Scam
United States Postal Inspection Service

Consumer Fraud by Phone or Mail
United States Postal Inspection Service

Consumer & Business Guide to Preventing Mail Fraud
United States Postal Inspection Service

A Consumer's Guide to Sweepstakes & Lotteries
United States Postal Inspection Service

Facts for Consumers: Your Access to Free Credit Reports
Federal Trade Commission

ID Theft: What It's All About
Federal Trade Commission

What To Do If Your Personal Information Has Been Compromised
Federal Trade Commission

Additional Federal Trade Commission Publications and Forms
PDF and text versions available

How to Avoid Identity Theft: A Guide for Victims
Office of the Attorney General, Commonwealth of Virginia

Identity Theft And Your Social Security Number
Social Security Administration

Identity Theft: The Aftermath 2003
Identity Theft Resource Center / Summer 2003

Identity Theft and the Deceased - Fact Sheet 117
Identity Theft Resource Center

For more publications visit the USPIS or the FTC Publications Pages.

VIDEO LINKS

Bernanke Not Immune to Identity Theft
ABCNews.com / August 28, 2009
*THIS CASE WAS INVESTIGATED BY MEMBERS OF THE METRO RICHMOND ID THEFT TASK FORCE.

FakeChecks.Org Prevention Videos
FakeChecks.org / October 1, 2007

Fraud/ID Theft Prevention Videos by the Postal Inspection Service
US Postal Inspection Service / October 1, 2007

Deter, Detect, Defend - Avoid ID Theft (A 10-minute educational video that provides an overview of identity theft and steps consumers can take to protect themselves)
Federal Trade Commission / 2007

Dateline\to catch an i.d. thief (Video)
Chris Hansen / MSNBC.com / April 3, 2007

20/20 - Inside Look at Scam Artists (Video)
Brian Ross / ABCNews.com / March 8, 2007

Gone in Four Seconds (A brief video on how ID thieves are targeting your vehicle and personal belongings)
Sheriff Ken Jenne / Broward Sheriff's Office / October 2006

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