Identity Thieves Filed For $4 Million in Tax Refunds Using Names of Living and Dead

[security curmudgeon <jericho () attrition org>]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: InfoSec News <alerts () infosecnews org>

http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2010/04/fake-tax-returns/

By Kim Zetter
Threat Level
Wired.com
April 8, 2010

A group of sophisticated identity thieves managed to steal more than $4 
million by filing bogus tax returns using the names and Social Security 
numbers of other people, many of them deceased, according to a 74-count 
indictment unsealed in Arizona Thursday.

The thieves operated their scheme for at least three years from January 
2005 to April 2008, allegedly filing more than 1,900 fraudulent tax 
returns involving about $4 million in refunds directed to more than 170 
bank accounts. The conspirators used numerous fake IDs to open internet 
and phone accounts and also used more than 175 different IP addresses 
around the U.S. to file the fake returns, which were often filed in bulk 
as if through an automated process.

According to authorities a 29-year-old California self-described hacker 
named Daniel David Rigmaiden, aka Steven Travis Brawner, was the 
ringleader of the group, who conspired with Ransom Marion Carter, III, 43 
of Arizona and at least one other conspirator who was arrested in Utah 
2008 and has not been identified in court records.

Rigmaiden has been in custody since May 2008, but Carter is still at 
large. The two are charged with 35 counts of wire fraud, 35 counts of 
identify theft, one count of unauthorized computer access, and two counts 
of mail fraud. Authorities are also seeking a monetary judgment in the 
amount of $5.5 million.

[...]
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