Private eyes indicted in ID-theft case

Private eyes indicted in ID-theft case, Seattle Times, Sept. 7, 2007:

State and federal agents have broken up a nationwide "pretext" identity-theft scheme involving private detectives who obtained personal information about their targets — from financial and medical records to tax returns — through deceit and lies, according to a federal grand-jury indictment unsealed Thursday.

The confidential records were purchased by attorneys, law firms, collection agents and others, and federal agents are "actively investigating" whether they might have broken the law as well, said Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn Frierson.

See TEN INDICTED FOR PRETEXTING IN "OPERATION DIALING FOR DOLLARS" - Defendants Would Adopt Various Identities to Get Confidential Tax, Medical and Employment Info, U.S. Attorney's Office W.D. Wash. press release, Dec. 6, 2007.