$2.1 million Identity Theft Ring Hits Fed Chairman Bernanke

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke's wife was
among the victims of an identity theft ring responsible
for over $2 million in fraud perpetrated by an "inside"
accomplice working for two D.C. area physicians.















In all, prosecutors say, the conspiracy ensnared
500 victims and accounts at least 10 financial
institutions.

During her year as the doctors' receptionist, Leake met
with Gray 20 times, she admitted. At each meeting she
handed over patients' information gleaned by photocopying
personal checks, and retrieving their birthdays and Social
Security numbers from files. In return, Gray paid Leake
between $200 and $500 for each victim's information.

Gray then took that information and used it to create fake
Maryland driver's licenses containing a victim's information
with a picture of another member of the conspiracy, court
documents said. The pictured co-conspirator then used the
bogus license to drain cash from bank accounts, sometimes
by cashing checks stolen from other victims by pickpockets.

Medical identity theft continues to be an effective way for
credit fraudsters to steal your hard earned money. It doesn't
matter how rich and powerful you are, as in the case of Chairman
Ben Bernanke and his wife.

So, our tip for today is to make sure you take the time to contact
your banks & credit card companies to get enrolled in automatic
credit monitoring for your accounts. Also, to safeguard against
medical identity theft which is not by design the purpose of credit
reporting, get your public information profile (PIP) reviewed for
any past or future instances of fraud using your good name.