It seems that every day I read about an “ID theft ring.” Most of the cases reported in the mainstream media do not provide the kind of detail that would further analysis, though, so I often omit them, even though they may involve a lot of money or multiple states. Here are just two examples of how local rings seemingly used multiple methods to obtain the identity information, but with one exception, we have no idea which entities were breached.
KTVU reports:
… There was a handwritten list of credit card information that had the credit card information of over 200 people,” explained Chapman. “There was information from an investment company that had account information from over 100 people.”
There was also a large quantity of mail stolen from mailboxes in Mill Valley, San Rafael and Novato.
[…]
Authorities also revealed that elementary school students were among the ring’s victims. One of Mac computers being used by the thieves was stolen from Novato’s Loma Verde school last year.
Read more on KTVU.
While that California gang was caught at a Days Inn, another Oregon gang was more upscale and targeted doctors and others professionals who might have cash or credit cards in their offices:
They had the look and swagger of characters right out of “Ocean’s Eleven.” The team of thieves moved from city to city — Las Vegas, Dallas, Beverly Hills — sophisticates in designer suits and Rolex watches.
The Portland-based crew plotted its scores in strip joints such as Club 205 and cashed out proceeds at spots like Spirit Mountain Casino.
They were the new breed of quick-hit identity thieves known as “creepers,” a team that sneaked into hundreds of offices and made off with checks, credit cards and personal information, which they turned into cash — lots of it.
Read more on Oregon Live.