All articles tagged with #identity fraud
Nicholas Rossi was sentenced to prison for raping women in Utah in 2008, after faking his death and fleeing to Scotland, where he was caught and identified through DNA evidence despite claiming a false identity. The case highlights his ongoing denial and the legal process determining his prison time.
Nicholas Rossi was sentenced to prison for raping women in Utah in 2008, after faking his death and fleeing to Scotland, where he was caught and identified through DNA evidence despite claiming a false identity.
The UK is planning to introduce mandatory digital IDs to combat identity fraud and streamline access to services, inspired by successful systems in countries like Ghana, Estonia, and Australia, with the aim of making it a fundamental part of modern governance.
NBA YoungBoy has been sentenced to 23 months in prison followed by 60 months of probation for federal gun charges, a reduction from an initial 27-month sentence. The charges stem from two separate incidents involving firearm possession in Louisiana and Utah. Additionally, he faced charges related to drug fraud and identity fraud, resulting in a $25,000 fine and a "no contest" plea to multiple charges. Despite his legal troubles, the judge expressed hope for YoungBoy's future success post-incarceration.
Allegations have surfaced that former Portugal back Edgar Ié may have sent his twin brother Edelino Ié to play in his place for Dinamo Bucharest, leading to suspicions and investigations. The club denies the claims and threatens legal action, fearing penalties that could include relegation. The truth may remain elusive as both the club and the Ié brothers have little incentive to reveal it.
Orlando city commissioner Regina Hill was arrested on charges of elderly exploitation, identity fraud, and mortgage fraud after allegedly spending over $100,000 of a 96-year-old woman's money on a home, personal items, and a facelift without the victim's knowledge or consent. Hill obtained power of attorney over the woman and co-signed a home purchase, moved into another property owned by the victim, and made unauthorized purchases using the victim's accounts. If convicted, she faces a maximum sentence of 180 years in prison.
Nicholas Rossi, accused of faking his death to avoid rape charges in Utah, denied being the suspect and claimed to be Arthur Knight Brown with a different birthdate. He was extradited from Scotland and appeared in court wearing an oxygen mask, refusing to enter a plea. Rossi, who used multiple aliases, has a history of legal battles and medical claims. The judge set a detention hearing for January 26, and Rossi will be appointed a lawyer.
Nicholas Rossi, also known as Nicholas Alahverdian, appeared in court for the first time since being extradited to the US to face assault charges. During the virtual hearing, he continued to speak in a British accent and wore an oxygen mask, making it difficult to understand him. He identified himself as Arthur Knight Brown and objected to being referred to as Rossi. He faces charges related to the sexual assault of a woman in Utah nearly 16 years ago and also faces another felony rape charge in Salt Lake County, along with multiple other complaints in Rhode Island and Ohio. Rossi has used multiple aliases and has insisted for years that he is an Irish orphan framed by authorities.
Shelby Hewitt, a 32-year-old former social worker, pleaded not guilty to fraud and forgery charges after allegedly posing as a ninth-grade and seventh-grade student in Boston schools. Prosecutors claim that Hewitt engaged in an elaborate scheme, using fake documents and personas to enroll herself in schools and obtain special education services while collecting her salary from the Department of Children and Families. She is facing multiple charges, including document forgery, identity fraud, and violating public employee standards of conduct. Hewitt's lawyer has cited her mental health challenges as a factor in the case.
Former Long Island Rep. George Santos, who was expelled from Congress, is currently in plea negotiations with federal prosecutors ahead of his corruption trial. Santos is facing a 23-count federal indictment, including charges of embezzlement and identity fraud, which could result in more than 22 years in prison. He has expressed a desire to avoid jail time and is open to community service or a plea deal. Santos has previously vowed to prove his innocence but has now indicated a willingness to negotiate. The trial is currently scheduled for September 2024, but prosecutors are seeking an earlier start date. Santos has also been using the video-sharing platform Cameo to make money and has filed ethics complaints against several members of Congress.
Cybercriminals are increasingly using artificial intelligence (AI) to carry out online scams, with deepfakes, fake LinkedIn profiles, and voice cloning being major concerns. Deepfakes, computer-generated copies of well-known individuals, can trick victims into transferring money or sharing personal information. Signs of a deepfake include sudden head movements, blurry edges, unusual lighting changes, and unnatural mouth movements. Fake LinkedIn profiles often target users with investment scams, while voice cloning scams use cloned voices to deceive people. To protect against these scams, individuals should ask personal questions that AI cannot answer, review privacy settings, avoid sharing personal information online, and keep security updates up to date.
The FBI and international law enforcement agencies have shut down Genesis Market, a cybercrime marketplace that allowed criminals to impersonate legitimate users of major platforms. Genesis provided its customers with a custom browser based on Google's Chromium project that allowed bad actors to adopt the internet persona of hacked individuals. The takedown, dubbed Operation Cookie Monster, targeted an online marketplace that allowed users to buy and sell data that would let them impersonate legitimate users of major platforms, including Dropbox, PayPal, Microsoft, Twitter, and a number of cryptocurrency exchanges.
The US Justice Department has charged a Russian spy, Sergey Vladimirovich Cherkasov, who tried to infiltrate the International Criminal Court in The Hague under a Brazilian alias. Cherkasov was detained in the Netherlands for using fake identity papers and was later deported to Brazil, where he was charged with identity fraud. The US has charged him for illegally acting as an agent of a foreign power while he was in the United States, collecting information on unidentified Americans which he passed to his handlers. It is unclear if or when the US will seek his extradition from Brazil.