Houston police bust large ID theft ring

ronjor · Sep 15, 2009

It's interesting what lengths thieves will go to steal money from others.

It's also interesting that States would allow personal information to be obtained for a fee on the Internet.

Houston police bust large ID theft ring

By PEGGY O'HARE HOUSTON CHRONICLE
Sept. 15, 2009, 6:36PM

Police have busted a Houston-based identity theft ring that victimized 457 people and 83 businesses scattered across 25 states, investigators announced today.

The scheme worked by stealing people's personal checks, then looking up their driver's license numbers in an on-line database. Theft ring participants would then use fake Texas driver's licenses featuring their pictures matched with the victims' identifying information to buy things with counterfeit checks.
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http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/6620365.html

LockBox · Sep 17, 2009

Do you think that's what they meant, Ron? Do you think the database they obtained the SS#'s from was a legal site selling the information? I wonder. This kind of thing is so scary, because it's only going to get worse. I agree with the outgoing "Cyber Czar" in the U.S. who has said everyone wanted the emphasis on cyber-terrorism, when it should be on cyber-CRIME. Just like this.

Thanks for posting.

ronjor · Sep 17, 2009

I'm sure the site selling the personal information isn't legal per se but the gathering of the information from, in this case, Texas, is relatively simple.

The key to understanding the lack of privacy in Texas’ public sector rests on understanding the Public Information Act. All information held by Texas State agencies are governed by the Public Information Act. Texas adopted the Public Information Act originally in 1973 as the Texas Open Records Act in an effort to make State government more open and accountable to the people. With only thirty-five exceptions, the Act makes all information collected and maintained by the State available to the public.
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http://www.dir.state.tx.us/egov/report/privacy.htm#Privacy_in_Texas

LockBox · Sep 17, 2009

ronjor said:

I'm sure the site selling the personal information isn't legal per se but the gathering of the information from, in this case, Texas, is relatively simple.http://www.dir.state.tx.us/egov/report/privacy.htm#Privacy_in_Texas
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Okay, I see what your saying and that's a very good point. While all of that "public information" has always been available, you had, at one time, to go down to the court house to get it. The spirit of these open-record laws was never meant for mass collection of data, but that's exactly what's happening. You are so right. It's very easy in my state as well. Scary.

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Houston police bust large ID theft ring

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