LifeLock Blog

The U.S. Department on Thursday charged 53 people in New Jersey for their connection to a identity theft ring. The identity theft ring operated acted as broker for identity documents, such as Social Security cards, which were used to commit credit card, tax and bank fraud.

Members of the identity theft ring some how obtained Social Security cards that were issued to Asian immigrants working in the American territories like American Samoa, Guam and Saipan, The identities were then sold to people of which a majority were of Korean descent. The identity theft ring would then help the purchasers of the information use the cards to obtain driver’s licenses and other identity documents from their home state. The ring also produced counterfeit driver’s licenses as well as other identity documents. Some of the defendants in this case also opened bank accounts as well as lines of credit using the fraudulent information.

The identity theft ring has caused millions of dollars of damage to U.S. banks, credit card companies, lenders and others. The identity theft ring is basically a one stop shop for identity theft. What ever you needed they could provide it for you and help use use it successfully.

It’s scary to see identity theft rings of this size functioning so well with such a large reach and clientele. According to U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman “The sheer scope of the fraud – and the organization that allegedly committed it – is remarkable,” he goes on later to say in a press conference that “This type of crime puts all of us at risk, not just because of the cost to our financial institutions, but also because of the threat posed by fake identification documents.”

LifeLock, the leader identity theft protection, has teamed up with the United States Census Bureau to educate the public about the Census and help protect people from identity theft. The Census is an important form consisting of 10 questions that helps give the government an accurate idea of the demographic and population of the US as a country.

Partners with the United States Census Bureau are government, non-profit, corporate or community organizations that have formally agreed to help share the message of the Census and will actively peruse the Census Bureau’s goal of achieving a complete count. In LifeLocks case they have agreed to inform people of the identity theft risks that could be related to the Census, because of fraud and scams that are sure to surface after the Census goes out.

As I was writing the other day there are a couple ways to spot a scam when it come to the Census. A real Census taker will have a badge and photo ID, which scammers could possible duplicate. A real Census taker will never ask for personal identifying information like a Social Security Number, or banking information. They will never ask for money or claim that you own them money. They will never harass you or try and intimidate you. They will never contact you by email, only by Phone, Mail, or in person. You can not fill out the Census online so don’t be fouled by fake Census websites.

Keep these things in mind as you deal with the Census in the next couple of months. Remember never give out sensitive information to a Census taker they don’t need it and should never ask for it. Keep your eye’s open for scams and know what to look for and how to spot a scam when you see one.

Every time there is some kind of major news or event happening in the US identity thieves and other criminals use it to their advantage to scam people, like the Obama video scam that had a virus in it. With the 2010 census just around the corner I thought it would be a good thing to discuss what to expect from the census and how not to get scammed.

The 2010 census in the US is going out in about two weeks and is set to be mailed on March 16th. They are due to be mailed back by April 15th. If you fill out the census and mail it by the due date there will be no reason for you to be visited by a census worker. If you are visited by a census worker after having filled out the form you should be suspicious.

Things to lookout for!

When the census takes place residences will receive a letter telling them they will receive a form in the mail, a phone call, or a visit from a Census Bureau representative. Most importantly the Census Bureau will not never ask for your social security number or any other sensitive financial information like bank account numbers. So if you are asked to provide such information don’t and contact the authorities.

You will not be able to complete the form online so don’t fall for a fake census website that are trying to steal your information. Census employees will carry a official badge that has on it an expiration date and the Department of Commerce watermark. The census workers also will conduct their business right at the door and will never ask to come inside. You should be suspicious if the census taker insists on coming inside.

So know what to look for and don’t give away any sensitive information like your Social Security Number or bank account information. If you filled out a form and mail it by the due date be cautious if visited by a census taker, or called on the phone. All and all the census is a good thing for your city and state, but don’t let it be a means of identity theft for you.

Could it happen that after committing so much identity theft and deception, the perpetrator completely loses track of who he is?

Rodney Roussell was arrested this week in Baton Rouge, LA after the US Secret Service and the East Baton Rouge Parish sheriff’s deputies spent months tracking him down.

When Rousell was arrested, investigators say they found an ID bearing his picture and someone else’s name; the same name was also found on six different credit cards.

Rousell’s cell phone was in one name; his apartment was in another. He uses yet another name as an entertainer, and his car was purchased using the Social Security number of an elderly woman from Texas. Besides all that, Rousell is a cross dresser, but was dressed as a man when he was arrested at a nightclub.

Some of Rousell’s stolen identities help him receive bank loans, and others were used to rack up roughly $90,000 in counterfeit check charges.

Rousell is also wanted on fraud and identity theft charges in Texas.

Identity thieves seldom limit themselves to just one victim, or even a single type of criminal behavior. Likewise, consumers need more than one plan of defense to protect themselves from identity theft.