Florida officials: Monitor finances after Home Depot breach Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi warned today that Home Depot customers should be alert to fraud following disclosures of a possible data breach. “I encourage all consumers to closely monitor their credit and debit card accounts to ensure that there are no unauthorized charges,” Bondi said in…

Whether you’re a florist or a lawyer, shred documents Regardless of how innocuous a document may seem, all business owners are being warned to shred all paper-based confidential documents ahead of National Identity Fraud Awareness Week (October 12-18). Spokesman for the campaign, Zach Pote, said documents containing personal and financial information can provide fraudsters with…

Florida-based ID thieves strike quickly in Northwest EVERETT — Police believe that members of a prolific Florida-based gang of identity thieves have made inroads in Washington. Prosecutors in Snohomish County earlier this month filed a felony charge against Ronald J. Rhoda, 41, of Hollywood, Florida. He’s accused of assuming a Mukilteo woman’s identity and stealing…

Personal data stolen from 26 Florida hospitals in nationwide breach FRANKLIN, Tenn. — A large network of hospitals says hackers have stolen the personal information of 4.5 million patients, including in Florida. Community Health Systems (CHS) operates more than 200 hospitals across the country. The company said hackers from China broke into its computers and…

Hollywood police launch economic crimes unit HOLLYWOOD The identities of those living here should now be a little bit safer. The Hollywood Police Department has launched an economic crimes unit, which will investigate crimes including identity theft and fraud. The unit will also be there to help residents whose identities have been stolen — whether…

Ex-medical aide pleads guilty in ID theft case A former medical assistant in Hollywood pleaded guilty Thursday to pilfering information from a Memorial Healthcare System database and stealing the identities of thousands of South Florida residents. La Toya Yvette Tillman, 33, admitted to one count of possessing unauthorized access devices and one count of aggravated…

Delaware law adds destruction requirements Delaware Gov. Jack Markell signed House Bill 295 into law July 1, 2014, which amends Title 6 of the Delaware code relating to commerce and trade and the safe destruction of documents containing personal identifying information. The law goes into effect Jan. 1, 2015. The law requires commercial entities “to…

Virginia deputies arrest Meadowview man for identity theft WASHINGTON COUNTY, VA (WJHL) – Washington County, Va. Sheriff’s Office arrested a Meadowview, Va. man on numerous felony charges Wednesday involving identity theft. According to a WCVASO news release, the victim contacted the sheriff’s office about someone closing his life insurance policy and cashing it out. Following…

Florida ID theft ‘nightmare’ part of $20B IRS fraud estimate The man in charge of collecting trillions in federal income taxes paid a visit Thursday to South Florida, where criminals have turned to stealing other people’s identities and refunds into a recurring nightmare for taxpayers and his agency. John Koskinen, who took command of the…

Students’ personal info left in closed Houston elementary school HOUSTON — If you take a walking tour through the old JFK Elementary School, you might be surprised at what you find. The Houston Housing Authority invited alumnus John Branch to take a look around. “We found some trophies,” said Branch, who was only hoping to…