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Plusquellic photo identified as shipping company's executive director
By Katie Byard
Beacon Journal staff writer
Published on Tuesday, Aug 19, 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.
Ray Sodano, a resident of Florida who is involved with http://www.aa419.org — a volunteer organization that seeks to police the Web — called local news organizations Monday about the site.
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.''
Sodano 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.''
Sodano 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 Sodano 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, Sodano said.
Katie Byard can be reached at 330-996-3781 or kbyard@thebeaconjournal.com.
Akron's mayor is a victim of identity theft.
Get the full article here.
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