There are several family-run businesses in my neighborhood—a barber shop, a restaurant, a shoe-repair shop and a coffee shop. They’re the kind of businesses support so they can stay open and avoid being swallowed up by the big-box stores.
The same goes for Suffolk NY, where Tonia Cheeseman, 62, and Michael Cheeseman, 41, ran their business. And, just like in many neighborhoods, the Cheeseman’s neighbors might have supported their family business. The big difference is that the citizen’s of Suffolk didn’t know they were sending business to a mother and son identity theft racket.
The two were arrested this week and charged with stealing the identities of dozens of their community members’ identities and using the information to fraudulently obtain credit cards. They then used the credit accounts to purchase things from department and home improvement stores, gas stations and grocery stores.
Most of the victims discovered to date are senior citizens from the Suffolk County area, and were patients at a doctor’s office where Tonia Cheeseman worked. Police and U.S. Postal Service investigators say some are also from Florida where the Cheesemans lived before moving to New York.
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We got LifeLock so we could sleep without worrying about people like these two!
My dad and I have a home repair business, and helped many of our neighbors with discounts. Our family business might not make as much money for us, but at least we can hold our heads high.
If this can happen at your doctors office, noplace is safe.