Financial identity theft is still too easy
November 28th, 2009The Florida Department of Law Enforcement arrested Karoll Acosta-Gonzalez, 31, in Miami and charged her with failure to appear, organized scheme to defraud and failure to appear, and criminal use of personal information.
Acosta-Gonzalez was previously arrested in February 2005 after a multi-agency identity theft investigation revealed that she, in concert with David Alexander Acosta, had broken into vehicles parked at beaches throughout central Florida to steal credit cards left in wallets and handbags. The two would then create Florida driver licenses to match the victims’ stolen credit card and purchase high-end electronics at various merchants throughout the Tampa Bay area.
I often wondered how financial identity thieves convinced merchants to part with their merchandise when a fraudster presents someone else’s credentials at the point of sale, and now I know. Once again I wish to point out how easy it is to borrow, use or steal anyone’s financial identity to fraudulently procure merchandise and services.
Have no fear though, the victims will be left holding the bag and they’ll have to clean up their soiled credit reports.
Oh, before I forget, get a load of this from the police report: “Acosta-Gonzalez was out on bond in Pinellas County and failed to appear for her arraignment. She then fled to Canada and committed similar crimes there using the alias of Raquel Lazo.”
Well done Judge. Well done.
