I usually cover arrests and convictions in Bits ‘n Pieces entries, but an Associated Press story on the sentencing of Stephen Rowell for mail/identity theft has some unusual details, apparently including the fact that Rowell has written songs about the fun of being an ID thief. Rowell was sentenced to 13 years in prison, and…
KS: Confidential Paperwork Found In Apartment Dumpster
Kim Wilhelm of KWCH12 reports that “boxes and boxes” of unshredded confidential personal and financial information from apartment rental applications were found in a dumpster behind Madison Park Apartments in Wichita. Now if this had happened in Texas, the state might do something and even fine the company, but I wonder what, if anything, Kansas…
FL: SunTrust Banks first replacing cards due to Heartland breach
WESH reports that SunTrust Banks sent out letters this week to customers informing them that their cards were being replaced due to the Heartland breach. WESH’s reporter asked what I would have asked: why are notifications first being sent now? The news station reports, “When asked why it took SunTrust so long to find out…
IN: Business accidently tosses records containing personal information for area residents
Mike Bennett of the Palladium Item reports that documents with personal information, including Social Security numbers, from hundreds of residents in eastern Indiana were found in recycling bins over the weekend. John Fisher, the president of Atlas Collections, took full responsibility for the accident, claiming that he didn’t know what was in the boxes he…
Bits ‘n Pieces
In the justice system: The teenage hacker known as “Dshocker” was sentenced to 11 months in a juvenile detention center. More. In FL, Patrice Thomas is charged with opening a credit card in someone else’s name to obtain cosmetic surgery. More. In NC, Brenda Denise Small was indicted for filing false tax returns and identity…
NY: Former tax dept. employee charged with ID theft
Anand Balasar of the Legislative Gazette reports that an employee of the NYS Department of Taxation and Finance has been charged with using taxpayers’ information to apply for and obtain credit cards. The state is notifying 2,000 individuals. Note of June 20, 2009: the original article is no longer available at that url but a…