ID THIEF CONVICTED AFTER ROMANCING BANK EMPLOYEES TO GIVE UP CUSTOMERS PERSONAL INFO
Miguel Bell, a Philadelphia man age 36, was convicted of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft, bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft. Bell’s identity theft ring included 24 others according to the Philadelphia U.S. Attorney’s Office.
According to the feds, Bell and his co-defendants obtained personal identifying information, including Social Security numbers and bank account numbers from customers of Citizens Bank, PNC Bank, Wachovia Bank, M&T Bank, Provident Bank, Sun Trust Bank, Commerce Bank, and Sovereign Bank.
Prosecutors say Bell obtained the information from bank employees who he developed romantic relationships with and an insurance company employee. Several of Bell’s co-defendants, including Christopher Russell, Kareem Russell, Michael Merin, and Tamika Brown entered guilty pleas prior to trial.
The feds say Bell’s id fraud scheme worked like this: Bell would check the available balance by calling automated bank numbers; then he allegedly obtained fraudulent driver’s licenses for his cohorts to use when cashing fraudulent checks; Bell paid the co-defendants with the fraudulent check proceeds and he kept the rest.
HAVE YOU DISCOVERED UNAUTHORIZED CHARGES TO YOUR BANK ACCOUNT? HAVE YOU DISCOVERED ACCOUNTS ON YOUR EQUIFAX, EXPERIAN OR TRANS UNION CREDIT REPORT THAT YOU DID NOT OPEN? IF YES, YOU MAY BE A VICTIM OF ID THEFT. CONTACT ATTORNEY MICAH ADKINS FOR A FREE ID THEFT INFORMATION KIT.
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