CTA Employee Indicted for Identity Theft Scam

A Chicago Transit Authority customer service representative was indicted today on identity theft charges for stealing customers personal information and using the information to purchase goods from local department stores.

Miranda Smith, 22, of Chicago, is charged in four separate incidents with, 1 count of aggravated identity theft (class 2 felony), 12 counts of identity theft (class 4 felony) and 8 counts of official misconduct (class 3 felony).  If convicted, Smith faces up to 7 years in prison.

According to the indictments, Smith was responsible for taking calls and credit information from customers to assist them in replenishing their CTA fare cards.  She would take customer printout information, including credit card numbers with her when she left work and give this information to two males, one of whom is her boyfriend.  Defendant and these two males would use this information to make purchases from local department stores, including Nordstrom’s and Macy’s.

Chicago Police arrested Smith on October 19, 2007 when she was at work at the CTA.  When arrested, Smith had eight more customer printouts in her personal bag. 

This is a continuing investigation by the Chicago Police Department, Chicago Transit Authority and the State’s Attorney’s Office.  If you feel that you may have been the victim of identity theft, please contact the State’s Attorney’s Consumer Fraud hotline at (312) 603-8700.

Smith will appear on December 4, 2007 at 9:00 a.m. for arraignment in Criminal Court, 2650 S. California.

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