The Moore County Sheriff’s office estimates that more than 1000 people in the Sandhills region had their identity stolen after phony TD Bank accounts were opened in their names.
NEWS, WRAL NEWS, COVERAGE YOU CAN COUNT ON. >>> THE MOORE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE NOW ESTIMATING MORE THAN 1000 PEOPLE IN THE SANDHILLS REGION HAD THEIR IDENTITY STOLEN RECENTLY, ALL OF THIS COMES AFTER PHONY BANK ACCOUNTS WERE OPENED IN THEIR NAMES. TODAY, 5 ON YOUR SIDE, KEELY ARTHUR WAS IN ABERDEEN WHERE THE FBI, LAWMAKERS, AND VICTIMS ALL GOT TOGETHER. >>> THE CLOSEST TD BANK IS 100 MILES AWAY IN SOUTH CAROLINA, SO WHEN COUNTLESS RESIDENTS IN THE SANDHILLS REGION GOT THESE MAILERS WITH CHECKING ACCOUNTS, THEY WERE SHOCKED, AND TODAY, THEY WANT SOME ANSWERS. >>> HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE, MANY RETIRED, LINED UP OUTSIDE OF A REC CENTER IN ABERDEEN. MANY, IF NOT ALL, WERE CLUTCHING THESE GREEN ENVELOPES FROM TD BANK. >> IT WAS JUST LIKE WHAT YOU WOULD GET IN THE MAIL. >> Reporter: SHE RECEIVED HERS EARLIER THIS MONTH. >> OF COURSE I THOUGHT THAT WAS STRANGE BECAUSE I HAD NEVER APPLIED FOR ANY CHECKING ACCOUNT. >> IT HAD YOUR NAME ON IT? >> FULL NAME, ADDRESS. >> Reporter: SHE IS ONE OF MORE THAN 1000 PEOPLE ACCORDING TO ESTIMATES FROM THE MOORE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE WHO HAD THIS HAPPEN TO THEM. THE FBI, LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND STATE LAWMAKERS INCLUDING STATE SENATOR, THOMAS McINNIS WHO REPRESENTS THE AREA, WERE ON HAND AT FRIDAY’S MEETING TO ANSWER QUESTIONS, INCLUDING MINE. >> WHAT HAPPENED? >> WE THINK SOME ORGANIZATION WAS HACKED. THAT THE ADDRESSES AND ALL OF THE INFORMATION POSSIBLY WENT ON THE DARK WEB, ANOTHER ORGANIZATION PICKED IT UP, OR BOUGHT IT, AND STARTED OPENING THESE ACCOUNTS. >> Reporter: SO FAR NO ONE HAS LOST ANY MONEY OF THEIR OWN, BUT SOME OF THE ACCOUNTS HAVE OVERDRAFT FEES ASSOCIATED WITH THEM. >> THAT HAS A VERY HIGH POTENTIAL TO DO DAMAGE TO HER CREDIT RATING. WE CAN’T HAVE OUR FOLKS TO BE SUFFERING AND HAVING A DAMAGED CREDIT RATING, BECAUSE OF SOME STUPID HACK THAT IS GOING ON AT A BANK OR SOMETHING SOMEWHERE ELSE. >> Reporter: THE SENATORS TELLS US THAT TD BANK HAS PROMISED ALL OF THE VICTIMS A YEAR OF CREDIT PROTECTION. SO IF YOU GOT ONE OF THESE MAILERS, YOU WILL ALSO GET A LETTER IN THE MAIL EXPLAINING HOW TO ESTABLISH THAT. IN ABERDEEN, KEELY ARTHUR, 5 ON YOUR SIDE. >>> IF YOU BELIEVE YOU ARE A VICTIM OF THIS SCAM, WE SHARE HOW TO REPORT IT ON OUR WRAL
Source: wral.com
