Bank identity theft in NJ. 9 busted

[Alexander]

Bank identity theft in NJ. 9 busted

It least it was not terrorist related. Just good old sex, drugs, and Rock'n Role!

Next time you open a bank account you might want to consider using a false mothers maiden name.

9 charged in scheme to sell records of bank customers, Asbury Park Press, 30 Apr 05

"A business owner, a state worker and seven bank employees were charged Thursday with taking part in a scheme in which the financial records of more than 500,000 bank customers were allegedly stolen and sold to collection agencies.

Authorities say the alleged mastermind, Orazio Lembo Jr., 35, of Hackensack, made millions of dollars through the scheme but spent most of it on a fast-paced lifestyle.

Hackensack Police Chief Ken Zisa said authorities learned of the scheme after they executed a search warrant at Lembo's apartment in February as part of a separate investigation.

According to authorities, Lembo received lists of people sought for debt collection and turned that information over to the seven bank workers, who would compare those names to their client lists. The bank workers were paid $10 for each account they turned over to Lembo, Zisa said.

Lembo also was accused of paying Orlando Rivera, 42, of New Milford, a manager in the Jersey City office of the New Jersey Department of Labor, for the employment records of people targeted by law firms or collection agencies.

Lembo was charged with racketeering and eight counts of disclosing confidential data and, if convicted, could get 130 years in prison and be fined more than $1 million. He also faces drug possession charges because officers who executed the search warrant at his apartment found steroids, ecstasy, cocaine and marijuana, Zisa said.

Rivera was charged with official misconduct, conspiracy and disclosing confidential data and, if convicted, could get 30 years in prison and fined $450,000.

Zisa said the bank employees charged in the plot accessed records for customers of Commerce Bank, Wachovia Bank, Bank of America and PNC Bank. Most of the customers are New Jersey residents.

The seven bank employees were charged with 10 counts each of commercial bribery and one count of disclosing confidential data. If convicted, they could be sentenced to 40 years in prison. Those charged were four Commerce Bank workers: Zoran Levajac of Totowa, manager of the bank's West Caldwell branch; Kathleen Lovelace, 35, of Kearny, an assistant manager of the bank's Lyndhurst branch; and James Digangi, 27, of Elmwood Park, and Anthony Diamanti, 29, of Clifton, both employees in the Lyndhurst branch.

The other three charged were Kelvin Diaz, 27, of Hackensack, an employee at Bank of America branches in Elmwood Park and Paterson; Myron Frierson, 29, of Teaneck, a financial specialist for Wachovia Bank in Elmwood Park; and Maurice Williams II, 28, of Hackensack, a financial specialist for First Union/Wachovia in Bogota."

http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050430/NEWS03/504300432/1007

[Guest chyna1057]

I am a resident of NJ and have a bank account at Commerce Bank. Back in Dec 04 I had a levy placed on my bank account which froze my entire Direct deposited paycheck leaving me with absolutely no money. ZERO! I wondered back then, how in the world did this CA/LF get my bank account info, but thought it was just what CA/LF's were privy too. It's possible my info was sold to the CA/LF I am involved with. I wouldn't be surprised cuz these guys are nasty and crooks. I'll be following this story BIG TIME!

[Radio_Guy]

and they wonder why we don't trust or believe in the current Credit System...

[DocDon]

...and what about the CA's who received what they obviously knew was information obtained from the inside?

[Radio_Guy]

Hear - hear...

[creditdodger]

chyna,

you need to see an attorney ASAP. Go after Commerce and make them pay for their employees. This is the tip of the iceberg. This goes on all over the country. I have a sister who worked for one of banks in the article and in another state. She was approached 2 times and offered $$$ for customer info.

[Guest chyna1057]

creditdodger:

I would love to see an attorney about this, being that this involves the only judgment I have against me and I am currently fighting the CA/LF because they are trying to collect on the levied funds and take me to court to add on more court costs even AFTER their debt was included in my BK petition. I just don't have any proof that my information was actually included as being sold and I don't know how to find that out.