Profile of an ID Theft Attempt

With all the dire news on increasing identity theft, we have something good to relate: an ID thief recently tried to sell his stolen goods…and got caught in the act.

The Tennessean reported last week that Nashville resident Steven Gilmore was arrested when he attempted to sell a flash drive—a portable storage device—to an undercover agent. The drive was filled with Social Security and bank account numbers, the Tennessean reported.

Gilmore faces charges of identity theft, aggravated identity theft and access device fraud.

Feds Tracked Gilmore for 16 Months

Gilmore had been under suspicion of illegal activities since December of 2007, when a complaint of fraudulent use of a credit card led officials to Anthony Michael Atkins, who had been convicted of access device fraud in 2005.

Atkins told authorities that he had purchased personal information numbers from Gilmore in the past in order to open fake identities on auction site eBay.

It would take 16 more months for Gilmore to be trapped by his own greed…by unknowingly trying to sell his stolen goods to a secret agent.

He Used His Jobs to Gain Access

In a move that’s being seen more and more in the world of identity theft, Gilmore had been using databases through several child support services-related jobs in order to obtain the personal information of a number of unknowing victims.

Legal records show that Gilmore’s job at child support services contractor Policy Studies was terminated on Jan. 8. But he still had some 1,500 records in his possession at that time, according to reports.

Prior to working at Policy Studies, Gilmore was employed by the Cookeville district attorney’s office in its child support position. He also applied with Wilson County for a similar job.

Caught in the Act…at Last

Because of Atkins’ assertion that Gilmore had sold him stolen identity information, Secret Services began tracking Gilmore, looking for evidence.

Atkins had told authorities that he asked Gilmore for a name similar to his own in order that Atkins might apply for a job at community-based AIDS service association Nashville Cares. Atkins claimed that Gilmore responded by sending him various identities, charging $2-5 each.

Gilmore was finally busted when he attempted to sell personal information to an undercover agent. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Nashville, three separate attempted transactions were tracked by law agents.

ID Theft “Getting to Be a Big Problem”

Due to his former jobs, Gilmore may have accessed information on individuals not only in Tennessee but in different states, reports say.

According to Ed Yarbrough, U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee, individuals whose information had been lifted by Gilmore have been alerted and “will be protected”.

“The idea of identity theft is getting to be a big problem,” Yarbrough noted. “It’s one of the reasons we’re pursuing this.”

It may be prudent to note, however, that Gilmore was in action with his criminal activities for well over a year before being arrested…and considering his apparent ease with the process, may have been doing so even earlier.

Be smart; protect yourself. Shred unwanted documents, request free credit reports annually and sign up with a reputable credit monitoring/protection service. Don’t wait for police to receive the tip that might never come…or could come after you’ve already been made a victim.