In recent news, a fourth person has been convicted in one of the largest identity-theft schemes in Southern California – with dozens of victims and millions of dollars in bank account losses.
The latest person was convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, and four counts of aggravated identity theft. She was acquitted of two counts of attempted bank fraud.
She, and the other three, is facing up to 30 years in prison for each count of fraud, 30 years for each count of conspiracy and a mandatory two years on each identity-theft charge. The sentencing will be held later this summer.
The scheme resulted in approximately $8 million in losses with victims all over Southern California.
If you have been charged with a serious white collar crime, such as bank fraud, it would be wise to contact an experienced Riverside Criminal Law attorney who can provide effective, reliable legal counsel and aggressive defense tactics to combat your criminal charges.
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\\ tags: arrest, attorney, bank-fraud, conspiracy, Criminal Law, identity theft, money, prison, Southern California, victims
Today, consumers are making more and more purchases on the Internet; their personal information has also become more vulnerable. Incidents of identity theft have become more common. Identity theft happens when someone fraudulently uses your personal information, such as a credit card or your social security number for financial gain or criminal purposes.
In most cases, the victim doesn’t find out that this has happened until he or she receives their credit card statement showing unauthorized charges. It gets worse – the victim could be denied a loan or lose out on a job opportunity because of negative information on their credit report. Finally, there is always the chance they can be arrested for a crime they did not commit.
Identity theft is treated as a serious charge and can have severe consequences. If you are being investigated for or have been charged with identity theft, contact a qualified Riverside Criminal Law attorney who will discuss the criminal penalties you face following your arrest and will fight to protect your rights throughout the course of your white collar criminal case.
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\\ tags: arrest, attorney, credit card, Criminal Law, fraudulent, identity theft, internet, prison, victims
The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department has been investigating individuals passing forged checks for several months after the victims saw withdrawals in their checking accounts that they did not do. Officers recently caught up with the forgers in Indio.
A 39-year old man and 58-year old woman were arrested after a search warrant was issued and evidence was found linking them to the crimes - one for passing fake checks and the other for conspiracy. The man is facing six preliminary felony charges for burglary, forgery, identity theft and passing a fictitious check, as well as felony possession of a firearm with live ammunition. The woman faces preliminary charges of commercial burglary and conspiracy.
If you have been charged with a felony crime, the stakes are high. The consequences of a criminal conviction can include jail or prison time, large fines and a mark on your record that can have a serious impact on your future plans. You cannot afford to lose your case – contact an experienced Riverside Criminal Defense attorney who will fight to protect your rights and future.
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\\ tags: attorney, burglary, Criminal Law, felony crime, forgery, identity theft, Indio, man, victims, woman
Having your identity stolen can lead to a very rough road ahead. According to the Federal Trade Commission, millions of Americans are victims of identity theft every year. Being a victim can be emotionally and financially draining.
Every day someone writes their name, phone number or social security number on a form. This is an open invitation for a theft to steal your identity. Identity theft robs an unsuspected individual of his or her money, time, security and credit. Identity theft can steal part of your life, not to mention your hard-earned money. You can be arrested for a crime you did not commit.
Taking a few extra steps could help you from getting your identity stolen.
- When purchasing items on the computer, look for a safe site before inputting your personal information into your computer. Always use anti-virus software.
- Never give unknown telephone callers personal information.
- Think twice before leaving personal outgoing mail in your mailbox.
- Check your credit card bill every month to make sure you made the posted purchases.
- Report any lost or stolen checks from your checkbook.
- Never carry your social security number.
- Always take your ATM receipt with you – do not toss it nearby.
If you have been a victim of identity theft, contact an experienced Riverside County Criminal Law attorney who is skilled in dealing with identity theft cases – an attorney who can help you regain your life.
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\\ tags: attorney, credit card, crime, Criminal Law, identity theft, personal information, social security number, stealing, victim
Recently a California man, was arrested when his computer was found to have 1.8 million stolen credit card numbers on it. He was sentenced to 13 years in Federal prison and ordered to repay $27.5 million to banks and credit cards companies that he victimized.
He pleaded guilty to an online clearinghouse where identity thieves shared stolen information. He told a judge that he was “mesmerized by the thrill of hacking”. He was addicted to it.
Several years ago, the man worked as a volunteer who helped the FBI understand and prevent cyber crimes. He was always curious as to what he could accomplish with a computer. It is too bad that the curiosity took a turn for the worst. There is no telling how much damage a person can do on a computer today.
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\\ tags: attorney, California, computer hacking, Criminal Law, cyber crimes, FBI, identity theft, online clearinghouse, prison
Twenty years ago, no one ever heard of cyber chats or cybersex. Today those words are common; there are millions of web pages devoted to cyber crime topics. There are websites that show how to commit an Internet crime.
Since the early 2000’s, the FBI has operated a Cyber Crime Task Force. They are cracking down on cyber fraud and Internet identity theft crimes. Most of these types of crimes originate in India while cybersex sites originate in the Philippines, Greece, Germany and Australia.
Statistics show that many sexual predators who entice children on the Internet are 30+ white males with an average income of over $70,000 per year. A defendant in an Internet crime must prove that he would never have committed this crime if the police had not trapped him. All I have to add is that I would suggest anyone involved in this type of crime should definitely consult a Criminal attorney, one that specializes in Internet crimes.
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\\ tags: attorney, Criminal Attorney, Criminal Defense, Cyber Crime Task Force, FBI, identity theft, Internet crime, Internet predators, law firm, lawyer, websites
Identity theft is becoming a big problem in California, especially in the Palm Springs - Palm Desert areas where many people vacation or live. Identity theft happens when someone unlawfully takes another person’s personal information and then uses that information to obtain loans, credit cards and access to bank accounts that are not theirs.
The Federal Trade Commission states that over nine million people are victims to identity theft in this country every year. Most people are not aware this is happening to them until they receive a ‘past-due’ bill or excessive fees on an account they did not use. It is interesting to note that many insurance companies cover identity theft on a homeowner’s policy. The Insurance Information Institute states that adding this to your policy costs between $25 and $50 a year – not much, considering what the consequences could be.
At the recent California’s Annual Identity Theft Summit, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said, “Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in the country… It can happen to anybody… it doesn’t matter how big you are, how little you are, how famous you are, how unknown you are…”
In order to protect your identity, never give personal information to anyone on the telephone – no matter who they say they are, shred all documents that have sensitive information on them and keep a firewall or anti-spyware on your computer. If you believe your identity has been stolen, contact your bank and credit card company immediately.
On the flip side, it doesn’t take much to be accused of committing identity theft. Technology can put up walls and false fronts to hide the real culprits. If you have been accused of stealing the identity of another, it is important to consult with an knowledgeable criminal defense attorney immediately.
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\\ tags: attorney, Criminal Defense, identity theft, lawyer
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