|
Printer-Friendly Version
VA AUDITOR STEALS VETERANS' SOCIAL SECURITY
NUMBERS -- Authorities find 1.8 million SSNs, but
VA says only 185,000 numbers are at risk.
Tae Kim
For more information about VA data theft...go to
this page...
http://www.vawatchdog.org/va%20data%20theft%20news.htm
Story here...
http://www.ocregister.c
om/news/kim-numbers-affairs-1924451-security-social
Story below:
Learn
More about how to get a VA Loan today -- Click Here
-------------------------
Man arrested in theft of 1.8 million Social
Security numbers
The man is also charged in using actor Marlon
Wayans' credit card at Tustin store.
BY ERIKA M. TORRES
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
TUSTIN - A man who purchased $5,600 in jewelry at a store in Tustin using
three fraudulent credit cards, one belonging to actor Marlon Wayans, was
arrested Thursday in Los Angeles after a months-long investigation, said
Tustin police Lt. John Strain.
The investigation also uncovered from his home computer about 1.8 million
Social Security numbers from the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, where
Kim had been employed as an auditor. Veterans Affairs' officials have said
only 185,000 numbers are at risk because many were repeated in the file.
Article continues below:
MONEY TALKS NEWS
VIDEOS -- MONEY-SAVING TIPS FOR YOU
(use left/right arrows in screen to view more videos)
|
Tae Kim, 28, was booked at Orange County Jail and
is being held in lieu of $1 million bail after being arrested at 5 p.m.
Thursday at a car wash in Koreatown, police said.
On April 7, two Asian men identified as Kim and Justin Hong, purchased
jewelry from Jewelry Exchange at 15732 Tustin Village Way using three
skimmed cards belong to three different victims, one of whom was actor
Marlon Wayans, Strain said.
Wayans is best known for his role in the now defunct WB series The Wayans
Bros. and the Scary Movie film series.
Kim was on formal probation and a search was conducted at his Los Angeles
residence June 14 where a computer was taken as evidence. After a search
warrant was obtained, police found the Social Security numbers hidden in a
computer file.
Kim had worked at the Veteran Affairs office since 2003 when he was a
student at USC but quit in February of this year when he discovered a
background check would be conducted.
The U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs verified that Kim did not have
permission to possess the Social Security numbers. Officials have notified
several victims from Orange County, police said.
In May 2006, Social Security numbers for 26.5 million U.S. veterans were
stolen in an apparent random burglary in Maryland from a Veterans Affairs
employee's house after he took the laptop containing the information home
without authorization.
Authorities from the Orange County District Attorney's Office, LAPD and
U.S. Marshalls have been attempting to arrest Kim since August.
Kim is believed to be a member of Koreatown Gangsters, police said. He
faces eight different charges, including commercial burglary, fraudulent
use of an access card, identity theft, criminal street gang activity and
computer access fraud.
Justin Hong is in L.A. County Jail awaiting trial for a gang related
murder. A warrant for his arrest is also pending filing with the court.
-------------------------
Larry Scott --
Don't forget to read all of today's VA
News Flashes (click here)
Click here to make VA Watchdog dot Org your homepage
email Larry
(go
back to VA Watchdog dot Org Home Page) |
