‘Terrorized with fraud’: 2 nabbed in Alameda for ID theft scheme

(KRON) — The Alameda Police Department said an investigation into a recent rash of recovered, stolen vehicles eventually led to two arrests in a “complex identity theft scheme involving victims across the country.”

APD said the case started on April 22 when officers began noticing connections between the recovered vehicles near Monterey Circle and Mosley Avenue and a later incident at a residence in the 2000 block of Monterey Circle where a person provided false identification to police.

Alameda police said its officers returned to the home on April 24 to serve search and arrest warrants. “During the search, officers found numerous fraudulent identification cards, credit cards, checks, and narcotics,” said police in a news release. “Tools used to create counterfeit documents were also recovered. K9 Primo assisted in the search and alerted to a stolen firearm in the residence.”

Two people were arrested in the police operation and face multiple offenses, according to APD.

Investigators said some of the ID theft victims were completely unaware that they had homes and cars leased in their names. One victim told detectives that they had been “terrorized with fraud for the last several months.”

The Alameda Police Department said it is working with leasing offices and car dealerships to help restore victims’ identities.

All possible victims of identity theft in this case are urged to immediately contact the Alameda Police Department and identitytheft.gov to file a report. They are also urged to place a fraud alert or credit freeze through one of the three major credit bureaus:

• Equifax: 1-800-525-6285 | www.equifax.com
• Experian: 1-888-397-3742 | www.experian.com
• TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289 | www.transunion.com