Smartphone Case Illustrates Identity Theft Problem

There’s been an increase in identity theft cases involving smartphone purchases by people using hijacked or fraudulently created AT&T wireless accounts. That’s according to a recent Chicago Tribune story, which attributes this commentary to police in the Chicago suburb of Orland Park, Illinois.

The Nov. 13 article recounts how two people allegedly attempted to buy five smartphones using fraudulent cell phone accounts. And it indicates that is part of a larger trend.

“In the last 18 months, police said, 30 of the department's 34 identity theft-related arrests or investigations involved the attempted fraudulent purchase of a smartphone using such an account, and most times the suspects had unlawfully placed themselves on an existing account without the account holder's permission or knowledge,” the Chicago Tribune reported.

In fact, Orland Park police actually nabbed a Detroit couple suspected of a fraudulent purchase involving five iPhone 8 Plus phones from the town’s Apple Store. They allegedly used fictitious AT&T accounts to finance the phones, each of which was priced at $949.

The police arrested Ernest Bryant and Ashjanae King, both 21. Each was charged with identity theft, as they allegedly used personal information from out of state residents to create the accounts.

And the article noted police suggestions on how consumers can help prevent such theft. It said to avoid carrying your Social Security car and writing your Social Security number on checks. It suggests consumers not respond to unsolicited requires for personal information. It reminds people to review bank and credit card statements and compare them with related receipts. When you’re done doing that, it says, you should shred those receipts – along with account statements, credit offers, and expired credit cards. And it offers a range of other suggestions.

Edited by Mandi Nowitz