DealerSafeGuardSolutions
3001 S Hardin Blvd
Suite 110-104
McKinney, TX 75070
ph: 214 726 0909
fax: 214 726 9009
solution
Below are a few examples of the kinds of headlines and related potential damages that can quickly and unknowingly happen in a tpyical dealership.
Sources Say More Dealerships May Have Been Victims Updates Coming At CBS4.com
MIAMI GARDENS (CBS4) ― Customers of a North Dade luxury auto dealership have been warned that their identities, bank accounts, even social security numbers may have been compromised by thieves who apparently have adapted low tech criminal techniques to the high-tech crime of identity theft.
CBS4 Newshas learned that a criminal is probe underway into what happened at the Warren Henry automotive group, after a woman walked in off the street and took off with a box of sensitive customer data.
The business is known as one of South Florida's top luxury car dealerships, selling Infinitis, Jaguars, Land Rovers and other high-end brands to well-heeled customers.
Now, this dealer is dealing with the aftermath of this showroom security breach. Sources close to the investigation confirm a woman walked in off the street a few weeks ago pretending to look at cars in the showroom. While another woman was engaged in conversation with sales personnel, the suspect made her way to a back office and grabbed a box containing the sensitive financial data of dozens of customers who'd recently purchased fancy cars from the dealer.
The sources also say it's believed the document heist was well orchestrated as the woman knew where to go and what to grab. The source told CBS4 News that the thieves even had a getaway car waiting for them, without a license tag on the back so they couldn't be tracked.
As a result of the theft, Warren Henry has had to contact dozens of customers to let them know their bank accounts, credit, and other personal information may have been compromised.
Miami-Dade Police are investigating, but declined to talk to us about the case, saying they haven't made an arrest. Sources near the investigation say they're close and have already identified one suspect off the showroom's surveillance system, and told CBS4's Brian Andrewsthat other dealerships may have been targeted in the same scheme.
It's unclear at this point if the woman has actually used any of the data that was stolen.
Beware of identity thieves; they could be your customers and employees
Cases bring added call for ramping up Safeguards Rule compliance
The situation: An undercover federal investigator approaches one of your custodians and offers $50 for each credit application he can find in your store and hand over. Would your employee take the bait?
That's exactly the scenario that resulted in 100 credit applications winding up in the hands of a United States Postal Service inspector at a store in Indianapolis last year, reports Lyn Boucher, a USPS investigator and member of the Central Indiana Financial Crimes Task Force. The group, made up of prosecutors and investigators from several federal agencies, is one of many similar task forces across the country investigating identity theft. "We were shocked that we could do it so easily," Boucher says. The purchase of credit applications was made during three separate visits to the Indianapolis store.
The investigator was also able to purchase a set of new vehicle keys from the custodian. (Note: Investigators are not releasing the name of the store or the name of the custodian, who has been sentenced to jail time and probation, because they are cooperating .
Police say they found 16 boxes of about 8,000 sales contracts and 50 ounces of cocaine. The files were found to contain sensitive information such as Social Security numbers, credit reports, drivers licenses and other forms of information. Whitemer and the other thief, Souza, are facing narcotics charges as well, and are being held on a $20,000 bond.
A felon who is a former employee of a Gilbert car dealership is accused of stealing the identities of 121 customers, according to court records. Dominick Joseph Hurley, 46, pleaded not guilty to one count of fraud, a Class 2 felony, on Oct. 10.Scottsdale police said Hurley may be part of a large identity-theft ring that goes beyond the dealership and is still under investigation. Court documents show Hurley, of Chandler, is suspected of having opened $60,500 worth of Lowe's and Best Buy credit cards with 121 customers' names between October 2007 and August while an employee at Henry Brown Buick-Pontiac-GMC.
An Antioch woman has filed legal action against a local automobile dealership, charging identity theft and deceptive trade practices in violation of the Consumer Protection Act.
DealerSafeGuardSolutions
3001 S Hardin Blvd
Suite 110-104
McKinney, TX 75070
ph: 214 726 0909
fax: 214 726 9009
solution