Leah Hope reports that the number of ID theft victims who all used an H&R Block service is growing: Dozens of East Chicago, Ind., residents who went to H&R Block had their identities stolen, police said. The IRS and East Chicago police are investigating claims that someone got a hold of taxpayers personal information. Thirty…
Author: Dissent
NM: MASSIVE ID THEFT RING BUSTED: DA: Thieves ‘Used Every Trick in Book’
It started out last month with a man and woman getting busted breaking into cars at the Kohl’s department store on Paseo del Norte NE. By Thursday, a dozen people were in custody in what authorities are calling the largest identity theft ring in the city’s history. Officials have identified Robert Rivera as the ringleader…
Two Chinese Schools Said to Be Tied to Online Attacks (updated)
John Markoff and David Barboza report: A series of online attacks on Google and dozens of other American corporations have been traced to computers at two educational institutions in China, including one with close ties to the Chinese military, say people involved in the investigation. They also said the attacks, aimed at stealing trade secrets…
(follow-up) Cops say suspected data thief continued spending while awaiting trial
George Warren reports: A data breach involving 29,500 Northern California Kaiser Permanente employees discovered a year ago has led to at least 400 Kaiser employees becoming victims of identity theft, according to criminal investigators. Detectives said the woman accused of stealing the personnel files continued to victimize employees even while she awaited trial. Mia Garza,…
Australians to Get Health "Social Security Number"
Brendon Nafziger reports: Australians are set to get a health ID number, laying the groundwork for a national electronic health records system. Introduced by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s Labor government February 10, the legislation calls for all Australian residents to receive a special 16-digit code, called an Individual Healthcare Identifier (IHI). The number, while mandatory,…
(update) GA: Up to 170,000 Valdosta State grades, other information breached
Arek Sarkissian II reports: A Valdosta State server that was reported as being breached last month could have exposed the information of up to 170,000 students and faculty, the university said on Thursday. Valdosta State officials reported the discovery of a breach on Dec. 11 and estimated it began on Nov. 11. On Thursday, the…