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Quick thought on Browns rookies
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East basketball update
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Where do We Go from Here?
Let's Talk Real Estate:
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Ohio Travels with Betty:
Margy inquires-when is a Taste of Hudson?
Sound Check:
LeVert II live performance Saturday night — "Dedication" album due July 13,
HRLite House:
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Akron Gamer:
First 24 'Guitar Hero 5' songs announced
By Katie Byard
Beacon Journal staff writer
POSTED: 08:32 p.m. EDT, Aug 18, 2008
Akron's mayor is a victim of identity theft.
Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic's credit card number wasn't stolen. An image of his face was.
The mayor's photo shows up on a Web site for Bluestar Express, which an Internet watchdog group calls a fake.
Plusquellic is identified as Bluestar shipping company's executive director, Benton J. Martin.
A man involved with http://www.aa419.org — a volunteer organization that seeks to police the Web — called local news organizations Monday about the site.
The man — who called himself Ray — said he did not want to use his last name for fear of retribution.
Plusquellic's spokesman, Mark Williamson, said that the city's law department will look into the matter. However, he said, it's difficult — if not impossible — to police the Web.
''These things are like moving targets. They hit and run and by the time you catch up, there's another one that crops up somewhere.''
On the plus side, Williamson said, the use of the mayor's mug is flattering. ''The image portrayed leadership,'' Williamson said, or they wouldn't have put it up there.''
Ray said he called the media about the site because ''I thought this would be a perfect way to highlight what goes on on the Internet and how people are defrauded through the use of stolen identities.''
Ray said aa419.org has contacted the company that hosts the Bluestar Express site and the fake site should be down in a day or two.
The Bluestar Express Web site uses the same pictures and layout as others set up by Romanian people Ray believes are scammers.
He said the Romanians operate ''advance fee'' scams, advertising cars and motorcycles at prices ''too good to be true'' on Web sites.
They say the items will be shipped through a third party and persuade victims to send money via Western Union or through a bank-to-bank transfer.
The Bluestar Express Web site apparently was set up to give the Romanians an air of credibility, Ray said.
Katie Byard can be reached at 330-996-3781 or kbyard@thebeaconjournal.com.
Akron's mayor is a victim of identity theft.
Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic's credit card number wasn't stolen. An image of his face was.
The mayor's photo shows up on a Web site for Bluestar Express, which an Internet watchdog group calls a fake.
Plusquellic is identified as Bluestar shipping company's executive director, Benton J. Martin.
A man involved with http://www.aa419.org — a volunteer organization that seeks to police the Web — called local news organizations Monday about the site.
The man — who called himself Ray — said he did not want to use his last name for fear of retribution.
Plusquellic's spokesman, Mark Williamson, said that the city's law department will look into the matter. However, he said, it's difficult — if not impossible — to police the Web.
''These things are like moving targets. They hit and run and by the time you catch up, there's another one that crops up somewhere.''
On the plus side, Williamson said, the use of the mayor's mug is flattering. ''The image portrayed leadership,'' Williamson said, or they wouldn't have put it up there.''
Ray said he called the media about the site because ''I thought this would be a perfect way to highlight what goes on on the Internet and how people are defrauded through the use of stolen identities.''
Ray said aa419.org has contacted the company that hosts the Bluestar Express site and the fake site should be down in a day or two.
The Bluestar Express Web site uses the same pictures and layout as others set up by Romanian people Ray believes are scammers.
He said the Romanians operate ''advance fee'' scams, advertising cars and motorcycles at prices ''too good to be true'' on Web sites.
They say the items will be shipped through a third party and persuade victims to send money via Western Union or through a bank-to-bank transfer.
The Bluestar Express Web site apparently was set up to give the Romanians an air of credibility, Ray said.
Katie Byard can be reached at 330-996-3781 or kbyard@thebeaconjournal.com.
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