Blockbuster Employee Steals Customers Identities - Spends $117k

[matcom]

<snip>

More than 65 customers of a Washington Blockbuster Video store became victims of identity theft after a store clerk allegedly stole their credit card numbers and other personal information.

Miles N. Holloman, 25, is accused of stealing the information from membership applications while employed at the Dupont Circle Blockbuster at 1639 P St. Northwest. He then used the information to rack up $117,000 in purchases, law enforcement officials said.

"Holloman allegedly purchased merchandise, ordered cellular telephone service, bought and maintained a car, obtained false driver's licenses and counterfeit credit cards, fraudulently applied for automobile insurance and traveled," according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.


The Southeast man was arraigned Monday in U.S. District Court in Washington and is charged with fraud, conspiracy, forfeiture and misuse of a Social Security number. If convicted, he faces a likely sentence of three to five years in prison.

http://www.dcexaminer.com/articles/2005/04/25/top_news/05newsall26blockbusters.txt

[Zuni]

1. no one noticed they were paying for his car, insurance, cell phone?

It sounds like people need to pay more attention to their credit card bills!

[joeybee12]

2. He probably set up a new credit card account in their names...had it

billed to a different address than the person's home address. They'd never know about it.

Seems like there's more and more about this in the news these days!

[Zuni]

3. That is because of me!!! Haha

I also mastered the art of Nigerian bank acount scamming!

[joeybee12]

6. I feel so left out! I've never been contacted about any of those scams!

:cry:

[Squatch]

4. If a person stole my identity, they'd be able to rack up about 50 bucks

in purchases. I need to get a better paying job.

[underpants]

5. Pretty impressive for someone working at Blockbuster

I'm just saying.

[Deja Q]

7. Dunno who to blame more...

The guy stealing credit card numbers, Blockbuster for treating their employees like shit for slave wages, or other factors.

As usual, the card stealer will get the full brunt of the punishment, with "society" allowed to continue its unethical practices.

[Mike Daniels]

8. Here's a hint: It's 100% the guy who stole the credit card numbers

Just a tip: If Blockbuster isn't paying this guy enough to afford a lifestyle of non-essential purchases perhaps it's time to him to improve his standing and look for another job.

Why am I not surprised that someone here would look to blame the employer even though practically 100% of this guy's purchases were for luxury items?

Here's just some of the expenses charged through the scam:

A 2002 Mercedes Benz
Insurance for the Benz
Vacations for NYC, Las Vegas and Miami
Cingular Wireless cell phone service
$500 gift certificate to Saks
$1000 gift certificate of Best Buy

Yeah, you know what? My heart refuses to bleed for this poor "victim".

[Squatch]

9. Amen

[Squatch]

10. Dupe

[skypilot]

11. How much info can you get...

...about a person if you have their name, credit card number and the last four digits of their Social Security number? I opened an account at a video store about a month ago and they told me that my account number would be the last four digits of my SS# plus my initials. They asked me for those last four numbers. I could have just made up four digits but then I'd have to remember what I'd made up whereas my SS# is hardwired into my brain. Am I now vulnerable?

[Mrs_Beastman]

12. almost any customer service job gives you access

I see hundreds of people's SS#, birthday and mother's maiden name every day..and so do thousands of my co-workers. Hell, some of the older customers give me their passwords and PIN numbers..not sure why, but they blurt them out.