A Harrisburg, PA collection agency and 15 individuals were charged with 639 count indictment due to a scheme that involved identity theft, pick-pocketing, and disguises.
The fraudulent scheme transpired during the period of October 2008 through October 2009. This scheme involved $600,00 of stolen funds from at least 60 different accounts.
The conspiracy process started when one individual pick-pocketed victims, then sold the stolen identification and other confidential documents. A the request of the person who bought the stolen information, additional identification searches of the victims were completed by two collection agency employees. The information that was obtained were social security numbers, date of births, and telephone numbers.
This information was then used to make cash deposits or to cash a counterfeit check from the victims’ accounts. The perpetrators even dressed up in disguises such as wigs, glasses, hats and makeup to try and look like the victims as much as possible.
The awareness of a Chase Bank investigator prompted an investigation. The investigator noticed women who were wearing disguises, making fraudulent transactions against accounts in different Chase branches. However, the accounts had been closed by the account holders since their wallets were stolen.
The 15 accused will now face multiple felony charges that consist of grand larceny, attempted grand larceny, identity theft, conspiracy, scheme to defraud, possession of a forged instrument, and criminal possession of stolen property.
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