‘Operation Swiper’ in New York - biggest identity theft scam in history

[malaise]

http://www.firstpost.com/economy/13-indians-charged-in-biggest-credit-card-fraud-in-us-102571.html
<snip>

In the biggest identity theft scam in the US history, 111 people, including at least 13 of Indian origin, have been charged by federal authorities for stealing credit card data of thousands of customers to buy high-end products worth over $13 million, including Apple gadgets and fancy bags from Gucci.

Among those indicted in ‘Operation Swiper’ are bank tellers, store employees and restaurant workers who allegedly skimmed customers’ personal IDs.
Credit Card

Many of the defendants are accused of going on nationwide shopping sprees, staying at five-star hotels, renting luxury automobiles and private jets with forged credit cards that contained the account information of unsuspecting American and European consumers.

The defendants are members of five organised forged credit card and identity theft rings based in Queens County and have ties to Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East.
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Some human beings are shallow beyond belief- they did this to live the 'so-called good life'.
Throw away the keys.

[malaise]

1. From another link

Police said they seized $650,000 in cash, Apple computer products worth tens of thousands of dollars, $850,000 worth of computer equipment stolen from the Citigroup Building in Queens, seven handguns and a truck full of electronics, computers, designer shoes, watches and identity theft equipment.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/07/us-crime-idtheft-idUSTRE7965TS20111007?feedType=RSS&feedName=domesticNews

[leftstreet]

2. '13 of Indian origin' out of 111. I wonder why this is even mentioned

Weird

[malaise]

3. I did wonder but I suspect that they must be the ring leaders

I noticed that the Indian Tabloid Times of India mentions their names.

[lunatica]

5. Maybe all the rest were Americans

[JVS]

6. Judging from the articles on the website, firstpost.com is an Indian website

[leftstreet]

7. Oh that makes sense

I missed that

[Duer 157099]

4. When individuals do it, it is a crime. When corporations do it

it's just business.

[malaise]

8. Identity theft is a serious crime

They could steal your identity.

[Duer 157099]

9. They wouldn't want my identity

Based on the types of items they were purchasing, they were going after high-limit credit cards. Jets? Five-star hotels?