Celebrities Targeted By Identity Thieves
While the intense scrutiny of famous individuals may seem glamorous, there are still everyday dangers that they face in life � including the theft of their identity. Actually, being in the public eye places celebrities at more risk for becoming a victim of identity theft that affects athletes, musicians, actors, actresses, and even politicians. Whether you are the high-flying Michael Jordan or the talkative Oprah Winfrey, celebrity identity theft is a reality.
When it comes to celebrity identity theft, there are many different ways a thieve gains entrance into the private life of famous individuals. While some steal credit card numbers, others simply hack into cell phones, as seen in the case of Paris Hilton.
Some identity thieves are notorious for finding clever ways on how to manipulate the system in order to create havoc. A recently discovered identity theft ring in the Northeastern Philadelphia used the postal service to illegally reroute celebrity mail by using a change of address form that involved a target list including Jennifer Lopez, Michael Vick, Whitney Houston, Paris Hilton, and Patti LaBelle. It is also believed that one suspect used their ties with the Internal Revenue Service to gain personal information.
It is also not uncommon to see a criminal misuse or steal multiple identities of celebrities at one time, as seen in the case of Abraham Abdallah, who infiltrated the privacy of countless celebrities. Using the Internet to retrieve important details on the likes of Oprah Winfrey, George Lucas and Steven Spielberg, Abdallah is thought to have attempted to steal $22 million, as he opened mailboxes in various names to aid in his criminal activity. Using a copy of the Forbes top 400 list of wealthiest individuals, he easily chose who he would target. When arrested, he had notations spanning the Social Security numbers, home addresses, and birth dates of various company executives, celebrities, and wealthy tycoons. In his possession, he had accumulated more than 400 stolen credit card numbers.
Some of the tools and resources that identity thieves use to steal from others are easily accessible. Abdallah was able to manipulate various companies, such as the credit reporting Equifax, which he used to obtain detailed credit reports. He used library computers, cell phones with Internet access, virtual voicemail, and courier services to target celebrities. Once enough information was gathered in order to pose as celebrities, he was able to collect credit card numbers and important financial records.
While celebrities are often targeted in regards to identity theft, those caught in the act are severely punished. The man who stole the identity of Tiger Woods was convicted and sentenced under the "three strikes" law in California, where he was given 200 years in prison. As for Abdallah, he was charged with criminal impersonation, forgery, and fraud with a bail set at $1 million.
Be Alert for Your Own Self & Loved Ones, too!
Take steps to safeguard your private, personal and financial information, as well as that of your loved ones. Help by alerting others to this info and share tips with them for their safety.
Want to learn more?
Protect your family against identity theft and lots more with "Safeguarding Your Family's Health, Wealth, & Happiness ... How to Keep Your Loved Ones Safe".
This info-packed ebook covers identity theft, computer viruses, scams, terrorism, poisoning, and even natural disasters. And now, for a limited time, you can get your copy free.
Click Here Now: http://www.autopilot101.com/free/book_IDtheft/index.htm
Also, check out "FINANCIAL FREEDOM: A Wealth Manual For The Middle Class" by Dr. Bryan Stoker free online at
http://www.autopilot101.com/free/book_FF/index.htm
And don't miss more than 770 ways to slash your bills with our online home study course, "MONEY SECRETS". Check it out at
http://www.autopilot101.com/free/book_MS/index.htm
More Articles
New Tool Helps Protect Public From Identity Theft
Protect Yourself From Identity Theft Online
Protect Your Identity This Holiday Season
Will Your Business Be A Victim Of Identity Theft?
Identity Theft: Watch Where You�re Going
5 Tips For Identity Theft Protection
My Identity Was Stolen Because Of Someone Else's Mistake
Related Products And FREE Videos
More Articles
Online Identity Theft Means More Than Lost Money
... any unusual transactions with your bank. If you suspect that something is wrong, act immediately, and contact the Federal Trade Commission to make the first steps in regaining your financial identity. Want to learn more? Protect your family against identity theft and lots more with "Safeguarding Your Family's Health, Wealth, & Happiness ... How to Keep Your Loved Ones Safe". This info-packed ebook covers ...
Identity Theft And The Internet: How Not To Be A Victim
... service. Technological advances provide more and more protection to Internet shoppers; however, as quickly as the innovations are put into place, there are criminal elements that are diligently working to thwart these efforts. When dealing with merchants on the Internet, you must practice common sense and be security conscious. Should you fall victim to Internet identity theft, you must take action ...
Outsmart Fraudsters And Protect Your Identity
... AVG has a free virus scan that many businesses swear is the best in the world. It not only removes viruses, worms, and trogans, but also can remove malware. Yahoo has a nifty little spyware remover on their browser tool bar. This tool, in conjunction with lavasoft s spyware remover has offered many businesses almost 100% protection. Windows comes complete with a firewall. However, many business owners ...
What You Need To Know About The Statistics On Identity Theft
... information that you need to know about when it comes to the statistics on identity theft, and if you understand how big of an issue identity theft is nowadays, than you thus surely understand how important it is to know about the statistics on identity theft. The statistics on identity theft have always been rather high, but especially more so as of recently, and there are many different reasons for ...
"Phishing" On The "Pharm": How Thieves Combine Two Techniques To Steal Your Identity
... link and was confronted with an authentic looking logon page, just waiting for him to input his user name and password and confirm what ebay supposedly didn t know. He almost did it. The page looked absolutely authentic, and he had already been set up by the email message. His fingers were poised over the keyboard when he happened to glance at the URL. There was something very, very wrong with it. PHARMING ...