Shadow
11-19-2011, 11:54 AM
This story doesn't suprise me one bit. I have had my credit card information stolen from a restaurant before and ever since I am uncomfortable handing them my credit cards and watching them walk out of my line of vision. Now I will usually make sure I have cash on me when dining out.
New York Theft Ring Recruited Waiters to Steal Information from Customers, Authorities Say
An ambitious and disciplined identity-theft ring recruited waiters at steakhouses and other high-end New York restaurants to steal diners' credit-card information, then used it for luxury shopping sprees, authorities said Friday.
Some 28 people have been indicted on various charges, including racketeering, conspiracy and grand larceny.
The group had seven waiters use so-called "skimming" devices to copy at least 50 restaurant-goers' American Express credit-card data surreptitiously while running their tabs at such powerhouse eateries as Smith & Wollensky and Wolfgang's Steakhouse, Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance Jr. said.
The ring made up counterfeit credit cards with the stolen information, then had associates fan out to buy big-ticket items, including Rolex and Patek Phillippe watches, Hermes and Chanel handbags, Jimmy Choo shoes, vintage wine and even a Roy Lichtenstein (http://www.foxnews.com/topics/entertainment/artists/roy-lichtenstein.htm#r_src=ramp) lithography of Marilyn Monroe (http://www.foxnews.com/topics/entertainment/movies/actresses/marilyn-monroe.htm#r_src=ramp), making purchases from Boston to Los Angeles to Palm Beach, Fla., Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said.
Directed by 41-year-old ringleader Luis Damian "D.J." Jacas, the group was choosy and careful, authorities said.
The waiters were told to focus on cards with high spending limits -- such as the Amex gold or jet-black Centurion card -- so their raft of pricey purchases wouldn't prompt American Express to call the cardholders. Even so, Jacas didn't allow more than $35,000 in purchases on any one card and would ditch each after about three days' use, Kelly said.
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/11/19/new-york-theft-ring-got-waiters-to-steal-info-from-customers/?test=latestnews#ixzz1eAdXUci9
New York Theft Ring Recruited Waiters to Steal Information from Customers, Authorities Say
An ambitious and disciplined identity-theft ring recruited waiters at steakhouses and other high-end New York restaurants to steal diners' credit-card information, then used it for luxury shopping sprees, authorities said Friday.
Some 28 people have been indicted on various charges, including racketeering, conspiracy and grand larceny.
The group had seven waiters use so-called "skimming" devices to copy at least 50 restaurant-goers' American Express credit-card data surreptitiously while running their tabs at such powerhouse eateries as Smith & Wollensky and Wolfgang's Steakhouse, Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance Jr. said.
The ring made up counterfeit credit cards with the stolen information, then had associates fan out to buy big-ticket items, including Rolex and Patek Phillippe watches, Hermes and Chanel handbags, Jimmy Choo shoes, vintage wine and even a Roy Lichtenstein (http://www.foxnews.com/topics/entertainment/artists/roy-lichtenstein.htm#r_src=ramp) lithography of Marilyn Monroe (http://www.foxnews.com/topics/entertainment/movies/actresses/marilyn-monroe.htm#r_src=ramp), making purchases from Boston to Los Angeles to Palm Beach, Fla., Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said.
Directed by 41-year-old ringleader Luis Damian "D.J." Jacas, the group was choosy and careful, authorities said.
The waiters were told to focus on cards with high spending limits -- such as the Amex gold or jet-black Centurion card -- so their raft of pricey purchases wouldn't prompt American Express to call the cardholders. Even so, Jacas didn't allow more than $35,000 in purchases on any one card and would ditch each after about three days' use, Kelly said.
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/11/19/new-york-theft-ring-got-waiters-to-steal-info-from-customers/?test=latestnews#ixzz1eAdXUci9