PA health system reports 144-patient data, identity theft

[InfoSec News <alerts () infosecnews org>]

http://healthitsecurity.com/2013/03/13/pa-health-system-reports-144-patient-data-identity-theft/

By Patrick Ouellette
Health IT Security
March 13, 2013

In what’s turned out to be a multi-layered case, 144 patients of Community 
Hospital in Chester and Crozer-Chester Medical Center in Upland, PA had their 
names, dates of birth and Social Security numbers stolen in an IRS tax fraud 
sting from January 2008 to September 2011.

Rafael Henriquez Polanco, 30, and wife, Yanira Lopez, 27, according to 
delcotimes.com, allegedly filed fraudulent tax returns with fake W2 forms, 
sought $1.7 million in refunds and ended up with $257,710 in return money from 
the U.S. Department of the Treasury. The couple had paid hospital employees to 
steal confidential medical forms and from there they would use those forms to 
steal patient identities.

The couple is facing charges ranging from conspiracy to defraud the government, 
aggravated identity theft, passport fraud and presentation of an immigration 
application containing a false statement. The report also says that Lopez was 
charged with wire fraud and is looking at 52 years in prison if convicted while 
Polanco faces 32 years in jail if convicted.

[...]

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