Criminal charge against 18 people for massive fraud ring

A Social Security number can be a valuable commodity in an underworld that thrives on identity theft and fraudulent schemes. When Social Security numbers are purchased, made up or perhaps stolen from the dead, there can be an enormous potential for amassing huge recoveries. That is part of the substance of the criminal charge being made by federal authorities against 18 persons involved in a $200 million credit card scam centered in New Jersey.

The ring is accused of making up 25,000 fake credit cards and charging them to the hilt. The scheme reportedly has international ties and went on for 10 years. The participants are charged with falsifying credit reports, creating sham companies to run fake cards through card swipe machines and buying names of customers from jewelry stores. They also created 80 sham companies that allowed them to run bogus charges through credit-card swipe machines.

Several of those arrested are from foreign countries and some are United States citizens. They reside in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. A criminal defense for each would not normally depend on their citizenship or residency. However, in this case some of the fraud was carried out in several other countries and there may be some aspects of the prosecution that rely on evidence from international sources.

As in any criminal prosecution that involves a large, widespread conspiracy, there can be individuals who are mistakenly arrested or brought into suspicion merely because of their unwise or unwitting association with others. When authorities arrest many individuals in one sweep, there are increased chances of a criminal charge against someone who is only a bystander or has been used as an innocent pawn by others. A New Jersey resident facing this kind of a crisis will benefit from early and swift action to organize his or her resources, and to prepare a strong and effective defense.

Source: New York Post, “Credit card scammers steal more than $200M,” Josh Margolin, Feb. 5, 2013