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    October 08, 2011

More Than 100 Charged in Massive NYC Theft Ring

   VOA News

   Authorities in New York say 111 people from five criminal enterprises
   have been indicted in a scheme described as the largest identity theft
   case in U.S. history.
   The District Attorney's office in Queens issued a statement Friday,
   saying the scheme involved five criminal enterprises based in the area
   and having ties to Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Eighty-six
   people have been arrested, while the others are being sought in the
   investigation, dubbed "Operation Swiper."
   Officials say 10 indictments charge the suspects with stealing the
   personal credit card information of thousands of unwitting American and
   European consumers. Authorities say the scheme cost individuals,
   financial institutions and retail businesses more than $13 million in
   losses over a 16-month period.
   Investigators allege that many of the suspects used forged credit cards
   to go on nationwide shopping sprees or stay at five-star hotels.
   Authorities say the defendants rented luxury automobiles and private
   jets and purchased high-end electronics as well as expensive handbags
   and jewelry.
   Additionally, some of the defendants involved in the identity theft
   operation are accused of taking part in burglaries and robberies
   throughout Queens County.
   It is alleged that people who worked in restaurants or bars, retail
   stores or financial institutions would steal credit card numbers by
   using a skimming device to steal customers' credit card information
   when the card was swiped for payment. The data was then programmed into
   the magnetic strips of blank cards. In some cases, artwork from
   financial institutions would be placed on the blank cards. The stolen
   data, officials say, was also used to make identification cards to
   match the name on the forged card.
   Investigators say authorities searched several homes and seized items
   such as computers, electronics, weapons, as well as $650,000 in cash.
   They also say the probe involved court-appointed eavesdropping on
   different telephones and that detectives with language skills spent
   hours translating conversations from languages such as Russian,
   Mandarin and Arabic.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.