ID Theft Ring Dismantled In New York

This month, the New York Police Department dismantled an international ID theft ring that utilized credit cards to primarily purchase computer products then fence them. According to the BBC, 86 people are now detained by the NYPD and a further 25 are still being pursued by the police. Five crime organizations are involved in the identity theft syndicate believed to have stolen a total of $13 million of credit card money in a 16-month period.

Members of the crime syndicate used these credit and debit cards to purchase Apple products and various other expensive gadgets. Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said in an interview that although the victims were not held at gunpoint, the impact was still pretty much similar since they were all robbed.

The investigation the NYPD, called Operation Swiper, took 2 years to break up the network, which they later found out to be connected to ID theft rings in the Middle East, Eastern Asia, Africa and Europe. According to New York District Attorney Richard Brown, this operation has dismantled the largest and definitely the most sophisticated ID theft gang by far.

How the ID Theft Ring Operated

Sources say that restaurant workers and bank cashiers who worked for individuals in the criminal organization stole card details from the victims to skim through their personal data. This data was later on passed to criminal technicians who forged credit cards.

The modus operandi continued on by hiring a team of shoppers who would purchase high end computer products in the US. Once this is done, the gang later sold these items to crime syndicates from the Middle East, Europe and China.

Thousands of dollars in cold cash were seized by the NYPD as well as high end computer equipment worth $650, 000. Handguns, a truck full of electronic items, designer shoes, computers, ID theft equipment, and watches were also found.

What Happens Next To This Crime Ring?

While many of these criminals are still on the loose, the NYPD and other policing agencies have done an outstanding job of finding the links in the chain. However, it's likely there will be further arrests as confessions come out through the discovery process. This story is far from over.

The 86 detainees will each be tried spearately for their role in the crime syndicate. The masterminds of the operation will probably face stiffer penalties, although each member must pay for their own crimes.

Identity theft has been a rising concern throughout the past several decades. More cases involving credit and debit card fraud arise each year, so knowing how to prevent identity theft remains vitally important.