Identity Theft Suspect Charged
Posted by David Wegbreit on Feb 27, 2005 - 10:52:00 PM
LOS ANGELES – Suspected identity thief, Olatunji Oluwatosin, was arraigned in Los Angeles Superior court on Thurs. Feb. 17 on charges of unlawful use of personal identification. Oluwatosin pleaded no contest and was sentenced to sixteen months in US State Prison.
Oluwatosin, a North Hollywood resident and Nigerian national, was arrested last October as a part of a Los Angeles Sheriff’s department sting on suspected identity thieves. Sheriff’s deputies lured the suspect into a copy shop, where he was to receive a fax application for information services. At the time the suspect was carrying five cell phones, only one of which was registered in his name. Subsequent searches of the suspect’s apartment yielded mail of suspected identity theft victims, including credit card applications.
Oluwatosin is believed to be a connected of the defrauding of ChoicePoint Inc., a San Francisco based company that sells customer information to government agencies, local and state law enforcement, as well as most Fortune 500 companies. In total ChoicePoint has 19 billion records. Last fall, hackers used stolen identities to create legitimate customer accounts with ChoicePoint, requesting customer information including credit reports and social security numbers. At least 110,000 records were at risk.
While the crime was discovered last fall, ChoicePoint was not allowed to notify potential victims until last week when a suspect was apprehended. The notification of potential victims of identity theft is mandated by a unique California law.
According to their Web site the incident “was not a breach of ChoicePoint’s network or a “hacking” incident and did not involve any of ChoicePoint’s customer information.” Choice point reassured their commitment to “its core principles of working to create a safer, more secure society through the responsible use of information while ensuring the protection of personal privacy.”
- If you suspect your identity has been stolen contact one of the following agencies. Place a fraud alert and verify that your information is correct, as often identity thieves will have your mail, and especially credit card applications rerouted.
Equifax 800-525-6285 P.O. Box 740241 Atlanta, GA 30374-0241 www.equifax.com
