Invisible Identity Theft
By Bob McDonnellLast summer, residents of a Richmond suburb reported that thieves broke into their cars. Oddly, wallets and credit cards were left behind. Victims only became suspicious later when unauthorized charges began appearing on their credit card bills.
Through their investigation, the Chesterfield P.D. and U.S. Secret Service uncovered a new identity theft scheme.
A recent federal indictment charges Chester resident Daniel Fox with Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft. If convicted, Fox faces up to 32 years imprisonment and a $1.25 million fine. The indictment alleges that Fox stole nearly $8,000 through multiple fraudulent credit card and ATM transactions.
Fox was able to pull off his heist, according to court papers, because victims left credit cards in unlocked cars in their driveway. This gave Fox easy access to the cards, allowing him to “skim” victims’ credit card info, then “burn” it onto Visa gift cards. He then went on a four-month food-beer-and-ATM spree, all at the expense of unknowing victims.
Fox was initially identified when an Applebee’s manager questioned a gift card’s Visa logo that clashed with the MasterCard number on the terminal. Fox grabbed the card and ran out of the restaurant. Later, co-conspirators and audio surveillance revealed the details of his scheme.
His case is set for trial March 22. Of course a defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Identity theft is the fastest growing white-collar crime in the United States. Our office prosecutes these cases jointly with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.
Here are some simple tips to avoid falling prey to this latest form of identity theft:
- Keep your credit cards secure.
- Don’t store credit cards in your car.
- Carefully examine your monthly statements for unauthorized charges.
- Analyze your credit report at least once annually.
If you think you have fallen victim to one of these crimes, notify your local law enforcement immediately and then contact our office. You can reach our office by calling our Consumer Hotline at 1-800-451-1525; or complete our contact form.
For more on identity theft, to apply for an identity theft passport, or to file a complaint, visit http://www.vaag.com/FAQs/FAQ_IDTheft.html or the Identity Theft Task Force at http://www.fraudandidentitythefttaskforce.com.
Consumer protection is an important statutory duty of the Office of the Attorney General, and our staff can help. In an age of increased identity theft and consumer scams, Virginians must be vigilant.