In what U.S. authorities believe is the largest hacking and identity theft case ever prosecuted – and the largest identity theft ring ever exposed in the U.S. – three men were indicted for allegedly stealing more than 130 million credit and debit card numbers, according to a report from Reuters.
At the center of the sprawling identity theft and fraud scheme, Reuters reports, was Albert Gonzalez – a 28-year-old former government informant already in jail for allegedly stealing over 40 million credit and debit card numbers – and two unnamed Russians. All three in the “largest identity theft case ever” were indicted on fraud charges related to five corporate data breaches from 2006 to 2008 and each faces up to 35 years in prison and large fines if convicted, according to the report.
Card numbers were stolen from credit-card processor Heartland Payment Systems and retail chains 7-Eleven Inc. and Hannaford Brothers Co., Reuters reports, while two other unnamed corporations were also targeted.
The sheer size of this identity theft case highlights both consumer and corporate vulnerability to data breaches by hackers and identity thieves. And for those consumers and corporations that think they can breathe easier with the arrest of Gonzalez and his accomplices, think again.
As quoted in another story from Reuters, Linda Foley of the nonprofit Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC) said she has not seen a decline in reported identity theft incidents since Gonzalez was jailed. "That tells us there's more hackers out there," she said.
Which means that – despite the “largest identity theft case ever” being prosecuted – the battle against identity theft and fraud continues for both consumers and corporations.
While most background check firms focus on employers, MyBackgroundCheck.com – a leading supplier of consumer requested and applicant supplied background checks for individuals – believes identity theft and fraud can be prevented by keeping a close watch on one's own Personally Identifiable Information (PII). One way to do this is by running a "personal" background check on oneself. To learn more about "personal" background checks, please visit www.mybackgroundcheck.com, email info@mybackgroundcheck.com, or call 1-800-503-2364. To follow MyBackgroundCheck.com on Twitter, visit www.twitter.com/MyBackgroundChk.
tahearn@mybackgroundcheck.com