A pair of university students have been linked to an identity theft ring based in Vietnam.
Winona (Minn.) State University officials say federal agents are investigating a pair of foreign exchange students. The ID theft ring uses stolen identities to steal millions of dollars from retailers. Neither student has been charged to date, but investigators say they have probable cause linking both students to crimes of wire fraud, identity theft and money laundering.
Investigators also claim the students collected nearly $1.25 million in illicit funds by controlling more than 180 eBay accounts and more than 360 PayPal accounts. No one at the university has been linked to the ring or charged, and it is unclear whether the students used university-issued computers in the crimes. Both students lived off campus.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and was dubbed “Operation eMule.” According to investigators, numerous major companies have been stung in this scam, including eBay, PayPal, Amazon, Apple, Dell and Verizon Wireless.
The scam works like this: stolen identities are used to open accounts with eBay, PayPal and U.S. banks. Through these accounts, the thieves sell popular, expensive merchandise at discounted prices. The sellers fill the orders by purchasing the goods from other vendors using stolen financial accounts. When the identity theft victim protests the charges, the merchants end up getting the short end of the stick.
The two students, Tram Vo and Khoi Van, have F1 visas that allow them to study in the United States, but they’re not allowed to work outside of that restriction.
The university is also conducting its own investigation, and the outcome will determine whether there are any disciplinary actions taken against Vo and Van, and whether the university will make changes to its current student conduct code.
Tags: Identity Theft, LifeLock, retail theft ring, Winona
