Identity Theft

HARRISBURG - The Corbett administration does not have to disclose the precise dates of birth for state workers under the Right-to-Know Law, a state appeals court ruled Thursday. A three-judge Commonwealth Court panel said the threat of identity theft was sufficient to trigger the "personal security" exception under which records do not have to be provided under the current version of the open-records law. The Inquirer had sought the information. The court said it found credible the opinions of two people cited by Gov. Corbett's Office of Administration - an identity-theft expert and the agency's own chief information security officer.

A Delaware County man arrested this week is accused of stalking CBS3 anchor Erika von Tiehl, police sources said Thursday. John Hart, 35, of Havertown, was charged Wednesday with identity theft, harassment, and related offenses. Police did not identify the victim, but sources confirmed it was von Tiehl. "This is a personal matter that is now being handled by the appropriate law enforcement agencies," CBS3 said in a statement. "We have no further comment, but, of course, Erika has our support through this process.

The Delaware County District Attorney's Office is hosting ShredFest 2011 to help prevent identity theft. Residents are encouraged to bring in personal papers such as bank statements and credit card reports that will then be disposed of securely. Proof of residence is not required to participate. The event will be held Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon at Rose Tree Park at 1671 N. Providence Rd. in Upper Providence Township. The event is cosponsored by Sun East Federal Credit Union and is not open to businesses.

It is time to reduce the clutter and get rid of old confidential documents. The Delaware County District Attorney's Office is hosting ShredFest 2011 to help prevent identity theft. Residents are encouraged to bring in personal papers such as bank statements and credit card reports for secure disposal. Proof of residence is not required to participate. The event will be held Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon at Rose Tree Park, 1671 N. Providence Road, Upper Providence Township.

Three Philadelphia men were charged Thursday in an aggravated identity theft and bank fraud scheme that victimized 23 individuals and six banks throughout the region. Authorities said that from December 2006 through July 2011, Lawrence Fudge, 46, Shawn Robinson, 38, and Richard Williams, 23, used stolen identification information to fraudulently withdraw, or attempt to withdraw, more than $148,00 from victims' bank accounts. The trio also allegedly obtained retail credit cards in victims' names and purchased, or attempted to purchase, goods worth more than $42,000.

LENNY DYSKTRA'S path through the judicial system in Los Angeles took another turn yesterday when his two co-defendants accepted plea agreements in the car theft and drug case against Dykstra. Prosecutors also amended the complaint against the former Phillies centerfielder so that if he is convicted, he cannot be sentenced to county jail, where he could have been eligible for early release because of overcrowding. According to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, Dykstra's former accountant, Robert Hymers, 27, pleaded no contest to one felony count of identity theft.

Former Phillies centerfielder Lenny Dykstra, already facing legal troubles involving his failed financial ventures, was charged yesterday with two counts of indecent exposure involving several women responding to advertisements he placed on Craigslist, according to the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office. If convicted, Dykstra, 48, could face up to 6 months in jail and a $1,000 fine for each count. Arraignment is scheduled for Sept. 7 in Los Angeles Superior Court. According to prosecutors, Dykstra placed ads on the website requesting personal assistant or housekeeping services.

PITTSBURGH - At least 29 employees of the city of Pittsburgh have had their identities stolen, police said Monday. Police sent an e-mail to city officials over the weekend, which indicated that the victims were in multiple departments. Employees received bills from PayPal for purchases they didn't make, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported. Detective Christopher Jordan of the Pittsburgh Police Computer Crimes Unit said the thief or thieves set up account numbers using employees' names, addresses and at least partial Social Security numbers.

A man operating a Center City holistic healing clinic has been indicted on charges of not only tricking patients into believing he was a chiropractor, but also submitting claims for treatments he never carried out. Tahib Smith Ali, 34, is charged with 150 counts of health care fraud, filing false medical statements, and aggravated identity theft. Ali, of Northeast Philadelphia, turned himself into federal authorities this morning and was ordered to surrender his passport and a hunting rifle at a hearing before U.S. Magistrate Timothy Rice.