identity theft
Coverage of identity theft in the Nexus archive.
- Help me recover and rebuild after identity theft
Roman Grissett discovered suspicious, unrecognized information connected to his account during a routine check on child support. Because the situation is serious and complex, he has sought help to cover legal costs for an attorney to protect his identity and future.
- 900 identity theft victims uncovered by Alameda police
The Alameda Police Department announced that detectives uncovered 900 additional victims of identity theft after one victim filed a police report. The first victim discovered fraudulent activity when they were notified by a credit bureau.
- Canadian man pleads guilty to Snowflake hacks that led to 165 breaches
A 26-year-old man from Ontario pleaded guilty to hacking Snowflake, leading to 165 breaches, and faces up to 32 years in prison for fraud, identity theft, and conspiracy charges.
- Sent my Passport to a Scam
A person fell for a scam after receiving a call from an impersonator claiming to be from U.S. Customs and Borders. The scammer tricked them into revealing their passport, face, and address during a video call, leading to concerns about identity theft. The victim froze financial accounts, enabled 2FA, reported the fraud to the FTC, and deleted the scam-related app.
- Debt collector keeps calling me, but won't tell me what for
A user reports receiving repeated calls from a debt collector claiming to be from 'Americollect' using different numbers and unclear debt details. The caller provides a P.O. box and website but never specifies the debt's origin, amount, or the user's name, raising concerns about potential scams. The user avoids answering calls due to fear of identity theft and has found no resolution in online discussions.
- Your credit report may be harder to fix after this federal court ruling
A recent 10th Circuit Court of Appeals ruling in Denver makes it harder for consumers to dispute false debt and errors on credit reports, particularly in identity theft cases. The court overturned a $500,000 jury verdict for Robbin Ward, who argued his identity was stolen to create a fraudulent apartment rental debt in Texas. The ruling requires consumers to provide 'objectively and readily verifiable evidence' for companies to investigate disputed debt, raising barriers for victims of fraud.
- (US) American Express called and said I had opened a new account and tried to buy child exploitation videos with it
The user received a call from American Express accusing them of opening a new account to purchase child exploitation videos. The credit card company filed a report with the FBI, leading to hours of calls and threats of criminal charges. The user hung up on an FBI agent in New York and later contacted their local FBI office, which advised them to call the number on their card, which appeared legitimate.
- Simple steps to protect yourself from identity theft
Identity theft remains a significant concern for Americans, with the AARP Fraud Watch Network advising steps like reviewing wallet contents, conducting social media audits, and weekly account checks to prevent fraud. Experts emphasize removing unnecessary personal items from wallets, securing online privacy settings, and using unique passwords for financial accounts.
- Simple steps to protect yourself from identity theft
AARP's Fraud Watch Network highlights simple steps to prevent identity theft, including checking wallet contents, conducting a social media audit, weekly review of bank and credit card accounts, and using unique passwords for financial accounts. Amy Nofziger emphasizes removing unnecessary items like Social Security cards from wallets and adjusting privacy settings on social media.
- Simple steps to protect yourself from identity theft
The article outlines steps to prevent identity theft, including reviewing wallet contents to remove unnecessary items, conducting social media privacy audits, weekly financial account checks, and using unique passwords for accounts. AARP's Fraud Watch Network emphasizes these measures as critical for protecting personal information.
- Man who tried to sell dead homeowner's Bay Area house faces prison
A man who tried to sell a dead homeowner's Bay Area house faces prison. He pleaded no contest to five felony charges, including forgery, filing false documents, identity theft, and perjury.
- $15K stolen from disabled Nashville woman in identity theft case
A Davidson County resident is in jail for allegedly stealing the identity of an intellectually disabled woman, resulting in over $15,400 in stolen social security benefits. The victim, described as disabled, suffered financial loss due to the identity theft.
- Someone called me regarding a charge back for a vacation rental that I know nothing about
A person received a voicemail from a woman claiming to work for Plus Vacation Rentals about a chargeback for a vacation rental in June, which they did not book. The individual verified the company and person online but suspects identity theft due to unfamiliarity with Guesty and the company. They express concern about potential scams involving their name and phone number.
- Dutchess County man charged with 30 counts of identity theft
A man from Hyde Park, Dutchess County, has been charged with 30 counts of identity theft after allegedly continuing to use a company's charge account following the end of his employment.
- 2 arrested with drugs, stolen credit cards at Mt. Juliet shopping center
Two individuals were arrested in Mt. Juliet with methamphetamine, multiple IDs, and stolen credit cards at the Paddocks shopping center. The 30-year-old man and woman face charges including drug possession, credit card fraud, and identity theft.
- [US] Fake New Jersey Job Website? - https://newjerseyprofessionalgroup.com/
A user warns about the 'New Jersey Professional Group' job website, citing vague job postings, lack of company information, placeholder FAQ text, and suspicions of scams and identity theft. The site is described as incomplete and suspicious, with minimal online presence.
- Miami-Dade man’s raps about fraud lead to discovery of beheaded chickens for Santería, cops say
A Miami-Dade man, known as 'Yunglazz Drakula', was arrested after livestreaming raps about identity theft fraud. A police raid revealed a gun, drugs, and beheaded chickens linked to Santería rituals, along with a live goat marked for sacrifice.
- Sprawling ‘fraud factory’ discovered hiding in plain sight on busy California high street
A Los Angeles storefront was discovered to be a 'fraud factory' allegedly involved in identity theft schemes for loans and credit. The operation was found in a busy California high street location.
- Evicted Again: Woman charged in $500K Denver theft case was previously accused of stealing from employer
Heather Ruybal, 51, faces felony theft charges in Denver for allegedly stealing over $500,000 from a business where she worked as a payroll manager and bookkeeper. She previously stole $10,000 from Quality Linings and Painting in 2023 and has a history of evictions and identity theft convictions. A landlord in Castle Rock also claims she owes thousands in unpaid rent.
- Attorney General receives 3 complaints about well-known Michigan football tailgater
The Michigan Attorney General's Consumer Protection Team has received three complaints against John Klein, operator of the 'HailGate' tailgate group, alleging he accepted money for promised items like Morgan Wallen tickets and memorabilia without delivering. Klein faces a cease-and-desist letter from Wallen's attorneys demanding refunds and halting sales, while Plymouth Township police and court records note prior criminal convictions and small claims against him.
- Man arrested in Weddington with 9 IDs used for identity theft
Yongxin Lin was arrested in Weddington for identity theft, money laundering, and possession of fraudulent identification after being found with nine IDs and three cellphones. Authorities allege he opened business accounts across North Carolina using multiple IDs, five of which belonged to real individuals.
- Man held on $1M bond in identity theft investigation in Union County: Sheriff
A man was charged with multiple counts of identity theft in Union County, N.C., after attempting to open business accounts using other people's IDs. The Union County Sheriff's Office reported the incident, with deputies from the Weddington division involved in the investigation.
- (CA) Border service scam
A user received a scam call claiming they had illegal goods and were involved in money laundering. The scammer used tactics like fake legal threats and impersonated RCMP and Canadian intelligence agencies. The victim refused to cooperate, reported the incident to authorities, and changed bank passwords.
- [US] I fell for a bank impersonation scam and lost $5,000, looking for advice on recovery
A person fell victim to a bank impersonation scam, losing $5,000 after providing a verification code and debit card information during a fake fraud investigation. They contacted their bank, froze credit, and are seeking advice on recovery steps.
- [US] Someone keeps using my information to open accounts, but uses my personal email.
A person reports unauthorized accounts opened in their name using their personal email, with each account linked to different addresses in another state. They have frozen their credit and filed identity theft reports, but are confused why the perpetrator uses their email. Customer service confirmed a savings account required their Social Security Number.
- Man faces nearly 200 charges in thefts near Northern Virginia fitness centers
Kumneger Ayalsew, a 29-year-old from Alexandria, faces nearly 200 charges for stealing from vehicles parked at Northern Virginia fitness centers. Police allege he stole wallets, credit cards, and other items from unlocked cars, using them for fraudulent purchases. Ayalsew was arrested in June, released on his own recognizance in Fairfax County, but remains detained in Arlington County on separate charges.
- Catfisher who had to pay £10,000 to victim whose identity she stole in horrific four-year campaign is revealed
A catfisher who stole a victim's identity over four years was ordered to pay £10,000 in compensation. The article reveals the catfisher's identity following the prolonged campaign of deception.
- Mexican man living in Lancaster sentenced for 28-year-long identity theft scheme
A Mexican man living in Lancaster was sentenced for a 28-year-long identity theft scheme that included prison time under the victim's name. Bryan P. Stirling, the United States Attorney for the District of South Carolina, announced the case.
- [AU] AustralianRoofers.com
The article warns that AustralianRoofers.com, a roofing contractor website targeting Australian homeowners, exhibits suspicious traits including AI-generated content, fabricated social media profiles, and concealed ownership via an Icelandic company linked to identity theft. It also questions the legitimacy of a related 'news' site (sydneydispatch.com) hosting an interview with the founder.
- Teenager wins £10,000 payout from catfisher who stole her identity - she only realised what was happening when men stopped her in street saying they were in relationship with her
A teenager won £10,000 from a catfisher who stole her identity. She discovered the deception when men approached her in the street, claiming to be in a relationship with her.
- LinkedIn is a cesspool of scammers and identity theft
The article claims LinkedIn is a hub for scammers and identity theft, with Microsoft being accused of not addressing the issue. It references a discussion on Hacker News with 13 points and 6 comments.
- Recruiter wanted my government ID before I'd even had an interview. Has anyone else seen this?
A job seeker was asked to provide a government ID before an interview for a remote administrative position. The recruiter insisted on pre-employment verification with urgent deadlines, and the seeker discovered AI-generated images on the company's website using Truthscan. The seeker concluded it was a scam targeting personal information for identity theft.
- [US] Dude calls saying someone at our company is using his SSN to report income, feels like a scam?
A man called claiming someone at the company is using his SSN to report $100k+ in income, disrupting his disability benefits. He refused to provide his name, hung up, and could not be reached back. This is the second such incident, with the first investigation finding nothing.
- (INDIA) Someone is pretending to be my friend with AI pic on social media
An account using a friend's real and AI-generated photos has been active on Facebook, Threads, and Instagram since last year. The account owner ignored messages to delete it, and reports to platforms have not resulted in action. The poster seeks ways to identify the person behind the account and remove it.
- Caught on camera: Family accuses caregiver of elder abuse and possible identity theft
A caregiver from Right at Home in Temecula was allegedly filmed rummaging through personal documents and jewelry of a 95-year-old woman in Murrieta. The woman's granddaughter, Alicia Speck, reported the incident to the caregiving company and authorities.
- Real USPS package tracking, not ordered by me, picked up at post office
A user received unexpected USPS notifications about a package they did not order, which was later picked up from the post office. They confirmed the issue via USPS Informed Delivery and email, suspecting mail fraud and potential identity compromise.
- [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.