2-Year ID Theft Investigation Yields 86 Arrests; 25 More Sought

angry tapir writes with this bit from TechWorld: "Prosecutors call it the biggest identity theft bust in U.S. history. 111 bank tellers, retail workers, waiters and alleged criminals were charged with running a credit-card-stealing organization that stole more than $US13 million in less than a year-and-a-half. 'This is by far the largest — and certainly among the most sophisticated — identity theft/credit card fraud cases that law enforcement has come across,' the Queens County District Attorney's office said in a statement announcing the arrests."

Comments

"Fraud" is a better term for it than "theft".

[khasim]

And fraud has been with us for a long, long time.

As the practices of the consumers have shifted (writing few checks, using less cash, increased credit/debit card use, on-line banking) the methods of fraud have shifted.

Unfortunately, the banks were able to also shift the "responsibility" for the fraud to the consumers.

If someone uses your identity to commit fraud then YOU are responsible for cleaning up the mess.

Even when YOU do not have any tools to PREVENT the fraud or even to be aware of it before the bank/store files a complaint against you.