Cell Phone Carrier Identity Theft 20 Million in Damages
Eight defendants were arraigned in a Brooklyn court on August 19th for allegedly stealing the identities of AT&T, T-Mobile and Asurion customers. They then used the information to obtain $22 million in wireless equipment and service. Wondering how they did it? So was I!
According to the indictment between February 2005 and July 2009 Beizem, an owner of Got Wireless, has a former authorized dealer for AT&T and T-Mobile. He Obtained dealer access codes to AT&T and T-mobile customer databases. Stewart, the owner of KP Wireless, an authorized T-Mobile wireless device dealer did the same thing and gained access to the T-mobile customer database.
Once they had access to the database these two with the help of others assumed the identities of AT&T, T-Mobile, and Asurion customers. The thieves would then add new lines to the customer’s accounts without their permission. They would request new devices for the new lines as well as place false claims of damaged or stolen devices. They then used the help of some FedEx and DHL drivers to redirect the packages into the hands of the thieves and mark them in the system as being delivered to the proper address.
The thieves then sold the devices to other people and when charges were incurred they were charged to the original customers accounts. Once the customer discovered the fraud and reported it the cell companies they had no choice but to absorb the cost of the phones and services.
Just another way someone can use your identity to steal from you. It seems this theft is only hurting the cell phone companies, but if you fail to pay the bill or don’t report the fraud fast enough it goes on your credit. Cleaning up that mark on your credit is no fun task.
Tags: AT&T, carriers, cell phone, companies, ID theft, identity theft, T-mobile, Tmobile