Forbes 400 Targeted by ID Thieves

An anonymous reader writes "Numerous media outlets have been reporting this story about an ID theft ring which targeted the Forbes list of 400 richest Americans. It seems that Igor Klopov, a 24 year-old Russian citizen, was the ring leader and was caught after attempting to pick up $7 million in gold that he was using to launder the money. It goes to show that anyone can be the target of identity theft, as they even went after the President of Transunion, one of the credit reporting bureaus."

Re:only 1m?

[Average_Joe_Sixpack]

I wonder what would have happened if these people weren't the 400 richest Americans, and instead 400 Joe sixpacks.

Instead of 7 million in gold they would score a box of obsolete computer parts and case of Pabst.

obligatory

[eneville]

In Soviet Russia, Forbes 400 finds ID fraudsters.

Glad to see you

[BillGatesLoveChild]

> arrested attempting to pick up $7 million in gold that he was using to launder the money.

$7 million to do the laundry? This sounds like the work of Judge "No Pants" Pearson. http://blog.washingtonpost.com/rawfisher/2007/08/f irst_pants_man_loses_case_nex.html [washingtonpost.com]

Re:only 1m?

[halcyon1234]

I wonder what would have happened if these people weren't the 400 richest Americans, and instead 400 Joe sixpacks. I imagine that these guys would have gotten away no problem.

Exactly, mostly because the Forbes people are famous enough to be recognized. I imagine the takedown went something like this:

Russian ID Thief: Ch-alo, yes. I am zee Hopera Vindfeeeed. I am chh-here to be pickings up zee gould vat is mine.
Gold merchant: OK, let me just bag that for you and... wait a second...