Notable Cases of Identity Theft Explained

Sep 25, 2024

Worst Identity Theft Cases

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What is Identity Theft?

  • Definition: Stealing someone's identity to commit crimes (e.g., opening bank accounts, traveling, renting properties).
  • Increase in identity theft due to:
    • Availability of information online
    • Hacking of websites
    • Weak passwords
    • Stolen phones and wallets
    • Phishing attacks
  • 2017 Statistics: 16.7 million Americans were victims of identity theft (IdentityForce).

Notable Cases of Identity Theft

11. The Journalist

  • Michael Finkel: Fired from NY Times in 2002 for fabricating a story.
  • Christian Longo: Serial murderer who impersonated Finkel while on the run.
  • Outcome: Relationship led to the book "True Story, Murder, Memoir, Mea Culpa."

10. Don't Leave Your Wallet in Your Car

  • Doree Sachs: Mother falsely accused of drug abuse after her wallet was stolen.
  • Criminal used her ID to have a child with methamphetamine in the system.
  • Sachs faced legal trouble, DNA test, and a $10,000 bill to clear her name.

9. Overconfidence

  • Todd Davis: CEO of an identity theft protection firm who advertised his social security number.
  • Result: His identity stolen by 87 people, $500 taken as an advance loan.

8. The Cheerleader

  • Wendy Brown: 33-year-old woman who enrolled in high school using her daughter's ID.
  • Participated in cheerleading for 18 days before being found out.
  • Defense: Claimed she just wanted to relive her youth, found not guilty due to mental health issues.

7. Getting Into School

  • Elizabeth Reed: Used different identities to gain university admission, including that of a missing woman.
  • Achievements: Good grades at California State University and Columbia University.
  • Arrested and sentenced to 51 months in prison.

6. The Young Boy Who Was a Woman

  • Barbara Skrilova: 33-year-old woman impersonated a missing 13-year-old boy in Norway.
  • Attended school for four months before identity was discovered.
  • Outcome: Underwent psychiatric evaluation.

5. Becoming Yourself Again

  • Li Ming: Graduate student faked his death to escape credit card debt.
  • Used obituary and attempted to obtain new identity but was caught.

4. Fraud

  • Margo Somerville: Grandmother wrongfully accused of writing fraudulent checks due to identity theft.
  • Criminal, Andrea Harris-Fraser, used her documents, leading to Somerville's legal troubles.
  • Outcome: Harris-Fraser charged with 19 felony counts.

3. Neighbors from Hell

  • Lara Love and David Jackson: Couple involved in identity theft scheme targeting neighbors.
  • Stealing mail and using information to make fraudulent purchases totaling about $15,000.
  • Charged with theft and identity possession.

2. The Bus Boy

  • Abraham Abdallah: Impersonated celebrities like Steven Spielberg and Oprah Winfrey.
  • Used internet and local library to gather information, stole identities of about 200 celebrities.

1. The Imposter

  • Frédéric Bourdain: Impersonated Nicholas Barclay, a missing boy.
  • Family of Barclay took him in, despite discrepancies in age and appearance.
  • Story inspired the documentary "The Impostor."

Conclusion

  • Identity theft is increasingly common with many ways to steal personal information.
  • Dashlane offers solutions to protect personal information:
    • Store personal information for easy online checkouts.
    • Monitor accounts for suspicious activity.
    • Dark web scan for personal info security.

Call to Action

  • Share experiences or other identity theft cases in the comments.
  • Check out other shows related to identity theft.