Feds: Fraud suspect charmed bank tellers

Authorities released details today about an identity theft ring that netted at least $1-million from 8 area banks. The US attorney indicted 5 people who allegedly ran the ring under alleged conman Miguel Bell of Philadelphia. "He and Michael Merin persuaded employees of several banks to provide them with bank account numbers, social security numbers, birthdates and other identifying information that belonged to bank customers," US Attorney Michael Levy said. They allegedly convinced 20 people to help carry out the thievery. Among them, folks off the street, who were given fake licenses and taken to banks to cash checks. "Usually these were down and out people, usually drug addicts, got them phony licenses, they drove them to banks, these people cashed checks with what looked like legitimate info," Levy said. Posted in: Check Fraud