ID theft traced to dental office
It can happen anywhere. Discuss the consequences with employees. MJ
Rene Stutzman
The Orlando Sentinel
August 10, 2007
Virginia Adkins was puzzled. One day $150 disappeared from her checking account.
A short time later, something else odd happened: Target sent her a letter, congratulating her on her new line of credit, but no one in her household had applied for a Target credit card.
Adkins, 32, an Oviedo mother of three, was the victim of identity theft.
Seminole County deputies on Thursday said they solved the mystery: Adkins and at least eight other people were victims of a 21-year-old dental office assistant, who combed through medical files and personal information.
Carolina Cruz of west Orange County was arrested by Seminole County deputies Wednesday, accused of grand theft, fraud and four counts of identity theft. She was released Wednesday night on $6,000 bail and was unavailable for comment.
The victims all were patients at Blandon Dental, which has offices in Oviedo and Waterford Lakes, sheriff's Lt. Dennis Lemma said. Cruz worked at both offices, he said.
Dentist Alvaro Blandon would not comment.
Adkins said she was shocked by what happened and stunned that authorities had tracked the thief to her dentist's office.
'I would never in a million years have suspected that,' she said.
Read the rest in the Orlando Sentinel
Rene Stutzman
The Orlando Sentinel
August 10, 2007
Virginia Adkins was puzzled. One day $150 disappeared from her checking account.
A short time later, something else odd happened: Target sent her a letter, congratulating her on her new line of credit, but no one in her household had applied for a Target credit card.
Adkins, 32, an Oviedo mother of three, was the victim of identity theft.
Seminole County deputies on Thursday said they solved the mystery: Adkins and at least eight other people were victims of a 21-year-old dental office assistant, who combed through medical files and personal information.
Carolina Cruz of west Orange County was arrested by Seminole County deputies Wednesday, accused of grand theft, fraud and four counts of identity theft. She was released Wednesday night on $6,000 bail and was unavailable for comment.
The victims all were patients at Blandon Dental, which has offices in Oviedo and Waterford Lakes, sheriff's Lt. Dennis Lemma said. Cruz worked at both offices, he said.
Dentist Alvaro Blandon would not comment.
Adkins said she was shocked by what happened and stunned that authorities had tracked the thief to her dentist's office.
'I would never in a million years have suspected that,' she said.
Read the rest in the Orlando Sentinel
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