Prosecutor: ID Theft Ring Used Stolen Info To Buy Designer Goods From Saks Fifth Avenue
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- An identity theft and fraud ring used shoppers' stolen information to buy more than $400,000 worth of designer shoes, handbags and accessories from Saks Fifth Avenue's flagship store, according to prosecutors.
Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. expanded on the 66-count indictment on Monday.
Prosecutor: ID theft Ring Used Stolen Info To Buy Designer Goods From Saks Fifth Avenue
"This identity theft ring was allegedly able to walk away with hundreds of pairs of shoes and bags due to the help of store employees, who are charged with making the fraudulent sales possible," Vance stated.
The alleged ringleader, 36-year-old Tamara Williams of Queens, obtained Social Security numbers and other personal information for more than 20 Saks credit card holders, Vance said.
Prosecutor: ID theft Ring Used Stolen Info To Buy Designer Goods From Saks Fifth Avenue
The information was provided to four salespeople, who'd use it to look up account numbers and ring up the fraudulent sales of Chanel, Valentino and other designer items, according to prosecutors.
"They were the ones who would in fact make false sales while a false shopper was on the other side of the register," Vance said.
Manhattan prosecutors along with Secret Service and Homeland Security investigators said Williams then sold the stolen merchandise on the black market, or returned it to Saks for gift cards. Vance said with identity theft on the rise, shoppers and retailers must be vigilant, CBS 2's Dana Tyler reported.
"This is hardly the ordinary stolen property case. It's a group of individuals who were obviously focused on high-value objects to receive high-value return on the black market," Vance said.
At least eight people have been charged.
Prosecutors credited Saks with initiating the investigation.
"There was no compromise to the security of Saks Fifth Avenue's networks or systems. Customer security is our utmost priority and we take these matters seriously," Saks said in a statement.
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