RALEIGH — North Carolina consumers now have better access to tools to fight identity theft thanks to a new law that starts October 1, Attorney General Roy Cooper announced today.

Under the new law, North Carolinians can guard against identity theft by freezing their credit reports online for free. Seniors and victims of identity theft can also freeze their credit by telephone or mail for free. The law also requires paid credit monitoring services to tell consumers how they can check their credit report for free, beefs up security breach reporting requirements, allows removal of personal financial information from local government Web sites, and protects crime victims from debts caused by criminals. Read the full story

A Mastic Beach former mortgage broker who owned an employment agency has been charged with identity theft after she used client information to run several scams, police said.

Suffolk County police said they fear victims may exist not just on Long Island, but nationwide. Read the full story

Two B.C. people who are victims of identity theft are speaking out in frustration with the justice system.

Mark Gorst and Shannon Werry have ample evidence indicating who the thief is, but even so, RCMP have told them charges won’t be laid.

“It’s frustrating … and there is a lot of anger,” said Werry. “Because you know who it is — and you have the proof that you need — and nothing happens.” Read the full story

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has disclosed a data breach of one of its servers that exposed the identities of 163,000 women.

REDWOOD CITY —— A La Honda woman who was part of an identity theft ring that used stolen credit cards to buy merchandise was sentenced to two years probation and four days in jail for her role in the scam, a prosecutor said Monday.

Mary Peggy Mercier, 20, pleaded no contest to one count of commercial burglary for using a stolen credit card to buy $475 worth of merchandise at a Nordstrom department store, Chief Deputy District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said. Authorities gave Mercier credit for the four days she spent in jail after her arrest. She is out of custody.

Continue Reading Here

Lately, I have kept myself busy with this wonderful site, my business and my hobbies.  One of the things I have been working on is Identity Theft Manifesto FORUM, a place where people can share their stories, experiences with identity theft or related crimes, share tips and ideas on how to protect yourself from identity theft, etc. Read the full story

BALTIMORE — Federal prosecutors say a woman who worked as a claims clerk for medical insurance adjuster has been sentenced to five years in prison on an identity theft charge.

Thirty-year-old Shanell Bowser of Baltimore was also ordered at sentencing on Friday to pay more than $200,000 in restitution to the victims of the scheme.

Continue Reading Here