Agents help bust massive ID-theft ring-over 40M credit, debit card numbers stolen

[babylonsister]

S.D. agents help bust massive ID-theft ring

By Onell R. Soto
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER

August 6, 2008


For three years, San Diego-based Secret Service agents used the Internet to communicate with thieves, part of an investigation that has led to the prosecution of what federal officials call the largest identity-theft ring ever busted.


Businesses, countries involved


“The investigation started here in San Diego,” local U.S. Attorney Karen Hewitt said yesterday. “It spread across the country and around the world.”

Three of those charged are U.S. citizens. The others are from Estonia, Ukraine, Belarus and China.

Officials say the full breadth of the conspiracy is staggering – more than 40 million credit and debit card numbers stolen from some of the nation's most popular retail chains.

The thieves hacked into wireless networks of retailers, including BJ's Wholesale Club, OfficeMax, Boston Market, Barnes & Noble, Sports Authority, Forever 21 and DSW, as well as TJX Cos., owners of Marshalls and T.J. Maxx, authorities said.

Losses to banks, retailers and consumers are “impossible to quantify at this point,” Attorney General Michael Mukasey said yesterday at a news conference in Boston.

Officials still have not identified all of the victims who had card numbers stolen.

more...

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20080806-9999-1n6hacked.html#

[Trekologer]

1. I do have a bone to pick with this.

I do not consider swiping a credit card number equivalent to identidy theft. Name, address, SSI number, drivers' license number are cases of identity thefy. A credit card number is not. Theft, yes. Identity theft, no.

Just throwing that out there...

[marmar]

2. This is some disturbing stuff.......

:scared:

[seafan]

3. Credit card numbers, passwords, account information hacked, used and sold.

I also read that this case combines several other large data theft operations as run by the same group of perps.


As usual, there is a http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=3424957&mesg_id=3425038">Florida connection in the form of the ringleader.


Maybe if Mukasey spent less time covering for Bush, he's have more time to protect The People of the United States.

[babylonsister]

4. Mukasey: I hope Schumer and Feinstein are happy. Their judgment

sure needs to be questioned.

[seafan]

5. I am so thoroughly disgusted with Schumer and Feinstein.

This is what happens when *elected officials* don't listen to their constituents.


I seriously question the thought processes of these people, other than the greed factor for money, status and power.


It certainly isn't about all of us.