The fraud has been existing since long and an online identity fraud is very dangerous. It is one of the biggest scams and deceptions. Recently, a man, Brandon Price, in Pittsburgh, aged 28, did this. He had been accused of wire fraud after he changed the address to that of the Microsoft’s co-founder, Paul Allen’s bank accounts. While changing this identity, it is easy then to pretend to be someone else.
The case is still to be proven with further evidence and the investigations must be underway for collecting further strong reasons to believe that he is the one who is the culprit. He cunningly persuaded a Citibank customer service representative that he was co-founder of Microsoft and that he is changing his current address from Seattle to Pennsylvania. According to the Associated Press, Brandon Price managed to have a debit card eventually sent to the address of his liking in Pittsburgh as reported by CNET. He wanted to actually pay his past loans and dues and other such expenses with this fraud money.
He has also been accused of transacting $15,000 from Western Union and a $658.81 payment on an Armed Forces loan account. It is very difficult for people like co-founder of Microsoft, for example, to remain out of being targeted for such fraud. Because despite their work constantly being in the news and what their company or companies are doing, not all the people are able to recognize them by voice or face or other things of such nature. Hence, for Brandon Price it was easy to deceive and get the money through such wire fraud.
However, he was caught when he was using the debit card at a dollar store. His footage was captured by the surveillance camera. The reason that he was caught again was that a multibillionaire would not be found out at a dollar store like this. Hence, up till now he was able to deceive, but this act got him caught. Also, it is very unlikely that Paul Allen would call a bank to change his address.
But it also means that you do not have to be rich to be deceived. However, Brandon was caught quickly because it was Paul Allen whose identity he stole and his public behavior and personality is well known. Had this criminal been not caught at this stage, he would have definitely gone on with other such false money transactions. This is also a reminder that strict identity laws are also required to protect people from such wire frauds.
[ttjad]
