A
press release issued by Social Security's Office of Inspector General:
Thervil Alcinor, 34, of
Miami, pled guilty to one count of access device fraud and one count of
aggravated identity theft ...
Alcinor was involved in the use of personal
identifying information ... to file fraudulent applications for
Social Security Retirement Insurance Benefits (RIB) and Social Security
Disability Insurance Benefits (DIB), and to file fraudulent income tax
returns with the IRS claiming false refunds.
Court documents state that Alcinor was
involved in establishing online accounts on the Social Security
Administration website, MySSA.gov, for already-existing RIB or DIB
beneficiaries to redirect RIB and DIB payments to accounts (often
prepaid debit card accounts) controlled by him. Law enforcement
identified 945 fraudulently established MySSA accounts, all with
similarly concocted fraudulent email addresses. The fraudulent claims
resulted in $700,462 in fraudulent RIB and DIB payments.
9 comments:
Well I think the last two stories just show how good it will be when the SSA moves to virtually all internet interactions with the public :)
Just because we can, doesn't mean we should. All these 12 year old managers think that the computer is the greatest thing since sliced bread. It does a lot of good things,no doubt. However, they seem to forget the law of unintended consequences. They are driving the bus right over the cliff.
And, you know, I'll bet he developed his own app to do it all from his iPhone! Ain't it grand?! NancyO
Better than the stone ages.
No one is advocating going back to the Stone Ages, don't be glib. I think what is being advocated is that the convenience, speed and intelligence of the computer should always be tempered with the common sense of an actual human.Speed is good, unchecked speed kills.
Because saying "All these 12 year old managers" isn't glib....
Hit a nerve, huh? Actually, I refrained from making another 12 year old comment in my second post. I thought it was so obvious that you were representing the 12 year old contingent that I refrained. The truth is that a lot (not all) of the young managers simply don't have the temperament nor the seasoning to lead. We have a large leadership void. Those leadership programs are poorly run and actually teach the 12 year olds how to be followers not leaders. They think computers are the answer to everything. Monitor, monitor, monitor, correlate, correlate, correlate, push, push, push. And repeat. Sound familiar? It will be our downfall. Hey I served my time, I'll be fine. But you young Turks are in for a rude awakening. WAKE UP!
While I am torn on the pushing of online services, if any of the 945 people victimized here had already set up MySSA accounts, this guys wouldn't have been able to set one up on their behalf. I am by no means saying these people are at fault for not taking advantage os haveing a MySSA accts, but this is one way to keep from being taken advantage of. And the slogan "Set up your OWN MySSA account to prevent from being a victim of fraud." is hardly a selling point for eServices.
"All these 12 year old managers think that the computer is the greatest thing since sliced bread." The funny thing is that the "12 year old's" aren't the ones in charge of making those decisions about eServices. That decision gets made way up the food chain.
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