Guilty Plea In Bernanke ID Theft Case

The leader of an identity theft ring that counted Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke among its victims pleaded guilty this week in federal court, according to the Associated Press.

You may recall Newsweek’s Aug. 25 web exclusive, which pointed out how a fraud syndicate that “stole more than $2.1 million from unsuspecting consumers and at least 10 financial institutions around the country” managed to ensnare the Fed chairman (it all started with a swiped purse belonging to Bernanke’s wife).

Now, according to the AP, the man who “directed” that scheme has been identified per his guilty plea. He is 49-year-old Darnell Sanders of Dolton, Ill. A co-defendant also on trial testified that Zanders had given him checks in the name of Ben and Anna Bernanke, according to the AP. In Newsweek’s earlier story, reporter Michael Isikoff pointed out that the couple’s checkbook was among the items in the stolen purse. Zanders is scheduled to be sentenced Dec. 18.


What can you learn from a case involving the nation’s top banker? Hang on to your personal items, to be sure. And report any thefts of checkbooks or debit cards immediately to the relevant financial institutions. If you think your personal data has been compromised, you can contact one of the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian or Transunion) and have them place a 90-day fraud alert on your credit accounts. You need place the alert only with one of them, and it will be applied to all three.

Of course, if you ever suspect you may have been the victim of fraud, request your free credit report from each of the bureaus online. You can do this at www.annualcreditreport.com.


Nation's Top Banker an ID Theft Victim