San Diego Agents Bust Identity Theft Ring
For the past three years, Secret Service agents based in San Diego, California have been using the Internet to communicate with identity thieves. Last month, they managed close in on what federal officials are calling the largest identity-theft ring ever busted.
Local United States Attorney Karen Hewitt said that the investigation started locally in San Diego and spread across the country, then around the world. Three U.S. citizens are charged, as well as citizens from Estonia, Belarus, China, and the Ukraine.
The financial scope of this massive theft ring is still unknown; however, officials estimate that over 40 million credit and debit card numbers were stolen from some of the country’s most popular retail chains, including BJ’s Wholesale Club and OfficeMax.
Thieve stole some of the debit and credit card information online and used some of the cards themselves. One of the websites operated by the ID theft ring also advertised child pornography, counterfeit cash, and passports and money laundering. Eight people in San Diego are charged with selling the stolen card numbers online.
S.D. agents help bust massive ID-theft ring, SignOnSanDiego.com, August 6, 2008
If you have been charge with theft, then you need an experienced criminal defense attorney. Contact Victor A. Orsatti at the San Diego Law Center to discuss your legal options.
