identity theft
Coverage of identity theft in the Nexus archive.
- [US] I received a email about a Lowe's order
The user received a Lowe's order confirmation email with their name and email, but the address, phone number, and card details did not match theirs. Lowe's customer service confirmed the order exists but could not be viewed under the user's account. The company reported it as potential fraud, and the user filed for identity theft.
- Gastonia mother files $15 million lawsuit over alleged false arrest
A Gastonia mother filed a $15 million lawsuit, alleging she was wrongly accused of identity theft and falsely arrested after being misidentified in an investigation. She is suing Gaston County and a police officer.
- Sudden surge of spam bot calls about loan offers, should I be worried?
The user received 13 spam bot calls in 15 days offering loans, with voicemails falsely claiming to respond to a 'loan request' or 'loan inquiry.' The calls originated from caller IDs across multiple U.S. states but did not mention the user's name or personal details, sparking concerns about identity theft.
- Got a call from an known number, could hear faint breathing but no replies to me saying hello
The user received a call from an old coworker, heard faint breathing but no response, and is concerned about potential identity theft after recently using their personal information for an apartment application. They left a voicemail but have not received a reply.
- Old Navy / Afterpay -weird scam?
An adult son received fraudulent emails in the user's name confirming an Old Navy order and Afterpay account. The user is concerned about potential identity theft and is considering a credit freeze. Afterpay confirmed no SSN was provided, but the user suspects their SSN may be compromised.
- Payactiv scammer has photo of my ID i’m worried
A user fell victim to a Payactiv scam after sharing a photo of their ID and personal information with a fraudulent support agent. They later discovered the call was likely a scam and have taken steps like filing a police report and planning to obtain a new ID. The scammer obtained their employee ID, phone number, and email address.
- What can they do with this info?
A person fell victim to an Apple Security Center pop-up scam, providing personal information such as SSN and driver's license number. She took security measures including changing passwords, reporting to police, and canceling credit cards. The scam occurred via Safari, likely while shopping on Amazon.
- Why identity theft comes back for the same people
The Federal Trade Commission warns that scammers are targeting individuals previously victimized by fraud, using fake recovery offers and agency badges to extract more money. The Identity Theft Resource Center's 2026 report highlights that 25.6% of identity crime victims manage multiple incidents, while 62.1% of attempted identity misuse involves new account applications. Scammers maintain 'sucker lists' of victim data, enabling repeat targeting, and stolen Social Security numbers remain vulnerable to long-term fraud due to their irreplaceable nature.
- Someone used her Social Security number, she almost lost Medicaid coverage
Corina, a Mesa woman on disability since 1999, faced potential loss of Medicaid coverage after someone used her Social Security number to falsely report employment in Texas. She filed reports with authorities and the Arizona Department of Economic Security but struggled to resolve the issue until media intervention secured her coverage. Experts highlighted the risks of employment identity theft, including tax and benefits complications.
- As Minnesota schools get new tools to crack down on enrollment fraud, ghost student victims ask for help
Minnesota schools are implementing new technology to combat enrollment fraud involving 'ghost students,' where scammers use stolen personal information to enroll fraudulently. Victims like Kara Downer face financial and administrative challenges after identity theft, while lawmakers have allocated $3 million to improve identity verification systems.
- Legitimate text from Nationwide?
A UK resident received a suspicious text from Nationwide Bank, claiming someone used their full name and date of birth to create a profile but could not open an account without their ID. Nationwide confirmed they do not send such texts, and the individual has reported the incident to fraud reporting platforms.
- Amazon fined $2.25M for withholding evidence from fraud victims
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has fined Amazon $2.25 million for blocking identity theft victims' access to transaction records. The settlement addresses charges that Amazon withheld evidence from fraud victims.
- Fast-food purchases lead to Louisiana woman's arrest on felony fraud, identity theft charges
A Louisiana woman was arrested on felony fraud and identity theft charges after a series of purchases at multiple fast-food locations over a year. The purchases led to her arrest, though specific details about the transactions or amounts involved were not provided.
- Handshake Job Scam- Data Entry
A scam on the Handshake student platform involves fake 'Remote Data Entry Specialist' positions. Scammers direct applicants to text a 'task officer' and later send a fraudulent check for software/hardware purchases, leading to identity theft risks.
- Montenegro police, FBI arrest Iranian wanted by US for hacking
Montenegrin police and the FBI arrested an Iranian-Turkish dual citizen in Kotor, Montenegro, for hacking attacks causing $3.4 billion in U.S. infrastructure damage. The 39-year-old faces charges including conspiracy to commit computer fraud, hacking, and identity theft in the Southern District Court of New York.
- I won “free vacation” but actually got scammed
A person and their partner attended a pride event where they spun a wheel and won a 'free' vacation, which turned out to be a scam. The scam involved aggressive sales tactics for vacation packages, unauthorized credit card opening using their social security number, and hidden fees totaling over $500. The company was not affiliated with 'Carnival' as claimed and victims reported issues redeeming packages.
- Mom's identity stolen... twice
The author discovered two fraudulent credit card applications submitted under their elderly mother's identity by Synchrony Bank and Barclays Bank. Both applications were confirmed as fraudulent, prompting a credit freeze and concerns about how the theft occurred.
- IRS did better than expected in tax season after slashing staff, except on the phone, watchdog says
The IRS performed better than expected in processing tax refunds during the 2026 tax season despite significant staff reductions, but struggled with answering phone calls, particularly for identity theft victims. A watchdog report highlighted that 59% of major account calls were answered, while compliance and identity theft lines had 34% and 19% answer rates, respectively, with identity theft cases taking nearly two years to resolve.
- IRS did better than expected in tax season after slashing staff, except on the phone, watchdog says
The IRS performed better than expected in processing tax refunds during the 2026 tax season despite significant workforce reductions, but struggled with phone service and long wait times for identity theft victims. A watchdog report highlighted 59% of major account calls were answered, while compliance and identity theft lines had 34% and 19% answer rates, respectively. Over 500,000 identity theft victims face average resolution times of 20 months.
- Manhattan senior home employee accused of stealing $400K from residents: DA
A Bronx man is accused of stealing over $400,000 from senior residents at a Manhattan senior living residence, using the funds for luxury items and vacations. Devon Ragnauth, 38, faces felony charges including grand larceny, fraud, and identity theft.
- Not sure if this is legit or a scam about a payday loan…
A person received a suspicious voicemail about urgent legal documents related to a payday loan from Check ’n Go. Multiple calls to the provided number revealed inconsistent information, confusion about debt details, and claims of identity theft, leading the individual to suspect a scam.
- Clarksville police seeking ID theft suspect after $28K stolen
Clarksville police are seeking the public's help to identify a suspect in an identity theft case involving $28,000 stolen from a bank account through three fraudulent transactions. Surveillance video captured a white male suspect wearing a ball cap, light blue long-sleeve shirt, and khaki pants. Authorities provided contact details for tips, including a Crime Stoppers line and P3 Tips.
- Police looking for man who allegedly used fraudulent ID to withdraw $28k from victim’s account in Clarksville
The Clarksville Police Department is seeking a man accused of using a fraudulent ID to withdraw $28,000 from a victim’s account through three transactions. Security footage shows the suspect wearing a ball cap, light blue long-sleeve shirt, and khaki pants leaving a local bank.
- Chicago man charged, accused of being serial mail thief
A Chicago man has been charged with burglary and identity theft, accused of being a serial mail thief.
- Hanover Sheriff's Office to host paper shredding event to help prevent identity theft
The Hanover County Sheriff's Office is hosting a paper shredding event on Saturday to help prevent identity theft. The event aims to securely dispose of sensitive documents and reduce the risk of personal information being misused.
- SoCal teacher recounts ordeal after her identity was stolen; experts offer tips for victims
A Southern California teacher recounted her ordeal after her identity was stolen by a thief who obtained her social security number and a copy of her birth certificate. Experts provided tips for victims of identity theft.
- (US) Scam originating from Verizon Wireless
A housemate with a disability faced a scam after a debit card error led to a Verizon account being flagged for fraud. The scam, which originated from Verizon Wireless, involved a fake bank website and a phishing link, with the fraudulent site registered to a sandwich shop in Arizona.
- Suspect wanted in Clarksville identity and check fraud case
Clarksville police are seeking the public's assistance to identify a suspect involved in an identity theft and check fraud case. The investigation focuses on crimes related to stolen identities and fraudulent checks.
- (US)Bill with same name and phone number
A husband has been receiving text messages from Georgia Power about a bill for an Atlanta address, despite not living in Georgia and having no account with the company. The account name is nearly identical to his, differing only by a middle initial, and the representative confirmed no matching social security number. The phone number was removed from the account, but concerns about identity theft remain.
- Richmond County man faces 45 charges, including larceny, ID theft and stalking
A man from Hamlet in Richmond County is facing 45 charges, including larceny, identity theft, and stalking, across the Carolinas. The charges were reported by the Richmond County Sheriff's Office.
- Man arrested for credit card fraud in Iredell County
David Kyle Tucker was arrested and charged with nine counts of felony identity theft and nine counts of felony obtaining property by false pretense after using a fraudulently obtained credit card to make unauthorized purchases at seven businesses in Iredell County.
- Cohoes man admits to embezzling over $4M from employer
A man from Cohoes admitted to embezzling over $4 million from his employer and pleaded guilty to grand larceny and identity theft in Albany County Court.
- County commissioners vote to write off more than $20K in taxpayer money lost to check-washing scam
Williamson County commissioners voted to write off over $20,000 in taxpayer money lost to a check-washing scam. A check originally written for $881.08 was altered to $20,881.08 and traced to a Florida woman who was a victim of identity theft. The county has implemented safeguards like positive pay to prevent future incidents.
- After October neglect arrest, Hialeah police accuse woman of draining disabled mom’s ‘life savings’
Hialeah police arrested Janet Edwards for exploiting her disabled mother's finances, including selling her home and making unauthorized withdrawals. Edwards faces charges of elderly exploitation, grand theft, and identity theft after draining over $250,000 from her mother's accounts.
- Trader Joe's shoppers are running out of time to claim their cut of a $7.4 million settlement
Trader Joe's is involved in a $7.4 million settlement over a class action lawsuit alleging the grocery chain printed excessive credit card digits on receipts, increasing identity theft risks for customers. Shoppers must act quickly to claim their share of the settlement.
- Treasury warns banks of ‘red flags’ tied to customers in the US illegally
The U.S. Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) issued an advisory urging banks to identify financial schemes linked to unauthorized workers, including identity theft and payroll tax fraud. The guidance follows an executive order by President Trump requiring banks to scrutinize customer citizenship status, though it stops short of making citizenship data collection mandatory.
- Treasury warns banks of 'red flags' tied to customers in the US illegally
The U.S. Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) has issued an advisory to banks to identify red flags related to payroll schemes involving unauthorized workers, following an executive order by President Donald Trump. The advisory highlights concerns about identity theft, payroll tax fraud, and money laundering, while noting banks were able to avoid mandatory collection of citizenship information.
- OnlyFans’ Lena the Plug blames identity theft for Adam22 divorce filing in wild twist
OnlyFans star Lena the Plug claims identity theft is responsible for Adam22's divorce filing. She alleges a 'crazy psycho stalker' orchestrated the scam.
- OnlyFans’ Lena the Plug blames identity theft for Adam22 divorce filing in wild twist
OnlyFans star Lena the Plug claims identity theft is behind a divorce filing involving Adam22, attributing the scam to a 'crazy psycho stalker'.
- South Carolina probe into fake IDs leads to ICE detention of 48 immigrants; 6 other people indicted
A South Carolina investigation into identity theft and fake identification documents led to the detention of 48 immigrants by ICE and the indictment of six people.