Featured
Identity Theft
Sugar Editorial Picks
TSA Puts ID-less Travelers on Terrorist Watch List?
Recently domestic airline passenger Sherri Davidoff wrote about her experience boarding an airplane without ID. Security required only basic information before Sherri could board the plane: she provided her name and the street and a state where she had lived previously. Sherri later said that she probably could have skipped even that much questioning by printing two boarding passes at home, and tossing the first one marked for further screening.
Front Page: US Cracks Largest ID Theft, Rwanda Accuses French of Genocide, Bush to Urge Human Rights
- US Cracks Largest ID Theft: US authorities have charged 11 people in what they're calling the largest-ever identity theft case. Hacking into the computer systems of major retailers like TJ Maxx and Barnes & Noble, the group is accused of stealing 40 million credit card numbers before selling them. The DOJ says the scam caused "widespread" losses, and US AG Mukasey says, "this case highlights our increasing vulnerability to the theft of personal information."
- Rwanda Accuses French of Genocide: Rwanda's government issued a report accusing French officials of involvement in the 1994 genocide that left 800,000 dead.
TSA Loses Laptop Containing All Data in Clear-to-Fly Program
The Transportation "Security" Administration might have to rethink its name after it misplaced a laptop containing all of the unencrypted data from 33,000 people who've enrolled in the TSA Clear program for over a week. The info in question includes names and passport, driver's license, and green card numbers — you know, the important stuff.
The laptop belonged to the private company Verified Identity Pass, which runs the program that allows passengers to pay a fee and register to clear security faster in 17 different states.
Facebook Applications Are Trojan Horses For Identity Thieves
If you use Facebook, you may soon find yourself a victim of identity theft. Third party "applications" make it possible for bad seeds to get crucial personal information available on your profile, even if you do not download them. All it takes is one of your friends to add a malignant application, and boom — your name, hometown, school, interests and photograph, are all available, no matter your privacy settings.
Online Identity Theft Is NOT Funny...
Unless, of course, it happens to someone else and presents itself on YouTube as a wannabe Citibank commercial.
Other Search Results
Front Page: Artist Van Gogh Didn't Cut Off His Own Ear
- Thought Van Gogh cut off his own ear? A new investigation says it was painter Paul Gauguin — during a fight. — Guardian UK
- Pregnant prisoner Samantha Orobator may escape death penalty in Laos.
5 Weird and Wacky Stories From This Week
- Woman Avoids Hard Time For Overdue Book — After an Iowa woman was jailed for failing to return an overdue book (The Freedom Writers Diary), authorities dropped the theft charge against her. She agreed to pay $13.95 and $50 in court fees.
- 86-Year-Old Woman Gets $1,000 Phone Sex Bill — Arlene Hald, 86, recently received a credit card bill for $1,000 in phone sex calls. The bill was addressed to her husband, who died 20 years ago and never had a credit card in his name, so her family suspects identity theft.
- Fake Doctors Banned in China — China has banned actors and other "non-accredited personnel" from playing medical experts in advertisements for drugs.
- Clean Water Brings Sharks — Environmental protection in Sydney has brought clear marine water, and more sharks close to shore.
Rah-Rah-Wrong? Mom Steals Kid's ID to Become Cheerleader
Maybe because they've been showing Bring it On all weekend, but I can't believe how this story takes "spirit fingers" and makes it pretty tragic. A 33-year-old mom in Wisconsin, Wendy Brown, is facing felony identity theft charges for taking her daughter's ID and enrolling in high school — just so she could be a cheerleader. Her daughter, incidentally, lives with her grandmother.
Favorite Weird News Story of 2008: Mom Steals Kid's ID to Become Cheerleader
The Nebraska butt bandit proved unsuccessful in leaving his Vaseline-enhanced butt mark as CitizenSugar readers' favorite weird news story, instead losing to the mom who stole her daughter's ID to become a high-school cheerleader.
The 33-year-old Wisconsin mom faced felony identity-theft charges this year for taking her daughter's ID and enrolling in high school — just so she could be a cheerleader. She even attended cheer practices before school started and went to a pool party at the coach's house!
Dressed for Arrest, Eh?
I'm sure no one wakes up and decides what to wear thinking they're going to get thrown in the slammer later that day. Most people dress to impress or dress for success, but dress for arrest? Not so much.
More on TresSugar
Fall Award Season
Top Brands
By Malene Birger
Benefit
enVogue