Latest Identity Theft News:
Twitter Was Hacked, Again!
The San Francisco-based company, Twitter, has become victim of a security breach for the third time.
In this latest case, a hacker got the password for an employee’s personal e-mail account, possibly by guessing or by correctly answering a security question. He then worked from there to steal confidential company documents.
Most social security sites do not use SSL, thereby the session ID of their user, which is included in the URL, sits on a proxy. Hackers use this effectively to gain entry. Also, password recovery features of employees private email account get compromised as in the case of Twitter.
Identity theft is vulnerability on social networking sites. It’s always important not to leave open complete profile and contact information. It is an area that needs user education.
Article on FOX NEWS: Twitter Hacked, Confidential Files Made Public
Police Sergeant Arrested!
University of Central Missouri police sergeant and wife arrested in identity theft scheme
A University of Central Missouri police sergeant and his wife have been arrested in an identity theft involving the stolen Social Security numbers for 7,000 students and alumni.
James and Amanda Drake have been charged with fraud, forgery, illegal credit card use and filing a false police report.
The FBI and university police are continuing their investigation.
Read Entire Article: The Kansas City Star
Student Stole 80 Identities!
A medical student from Chicago is facing federal charges in connection with an elaborate financial scheme he allegedly carried out while living in Portland and studying at Saint Joseph’s College two years ago.
He was charged June 29 in federal court with one count of bank fraud and two counts of aggravated identity theft. But court affidavits say he stole the identities of more than 80 people all over the United States. If convicted, he could face as much as 34 years in prison.
Investigators say Pidan admitted to using the identities of between 80 and 100 people to steal money from various banks.
Pidan admitted opening between 80 and 100 bank accounts in other people’s identities at Bank of America, Chase Bank and Washington Mutual Bank. He opened mailboxes in places like Fargo, North Dakota, and Rapid City, South Dakota, to be used as mailing addresses in connection with the fraud.”
Read Entire Article on Portland Press Herald
ID Theft concern after burglary
Burglary of state storage facility creates ID theft concern
Thieves targeted a Phoenix storage facility near 7th Street and Indian School Road last October, taking two hard drives.
“We think simply somebody broke in and was after the computers, not knowing anything about what might have been on the computers,” said Steve Meissner, communications director for the Arizona Department of Economic Security.
The backup drives stored sensitive information about parents and children enrolled in the Early Intervention Program for children age three and under with disabilities or developmental delays.