Eight accused in financial scams

It's the season for giving ... and taking, the Financial Crimes Task Force of Southwestern Pennsylvania warns.

Financial crimes spike during the holidays, given the number of retail store and online purchases.

"With the volume of sales and the amount of information changing hands, it's a vulnerable time," said U.S. postal inspector and task force member David Anderchak. "Plus, criminals need to buy gifts as well."

Whether through serendipity or planned timing, the task force was out to prove its point Friday when it announced that eight Allegheny County residents had either been arrested or have arrest warrants pending for financial scams.

Arrested were Tasha Smith, 21, of Ross, and Steven Novack, 19, of Lawrenceville.

Smith is charged with unlawful use of a computer and theft by deception. While working at a bank, Smith illegally accessed customer information and stole more than $10,000 through check fraud, authorities said.

Novack is charged with access device fraud in connection with the theft of credit and debit cards from two doctors at the hospital where he worked. He charged more than $800 on the cards, authorities said.

Donald Carpenter, 26, of Dormont, will receive a court summons for allegedly stealing a check from a mailbox.

Arrest warrants have been issued for:

• William E. Bowser, 43, of Greenfield, who is accused for the second time of stealing a Pittsburgh resident's identity and this time using it to receive more than $16,000 in medical treatment and prescription drugs.

• George M. Sullivan, 31, of Coraopolis, who is accused of filing forged change-of-address forms at the post office for co-workers in order to receive their paychecks and cashing checks worth more than $700.

• LaShawn Mitchell-Cummings, 38, of Wilkinsburg, who is suspected of cashing more than $1,100 in counterfeit payroll checks.

• Lindsey Gagliordi, 27, of Marshall, who is suspected of stealing government credit card numbers from postal workers and making more than $500 in fraudulent purchases.

• Christopher Westbrooks, 43, of McKeesport, who is charged with cashing counterfeit payroll checks at businesses. Authorities say he is connected to a fake check crime ring and is being charged in federal court.

Though the crimes allegedly committed by the eight people sought in this week's roundup are not related, it shows the number of ways people are vulnerable, Anderchak said.

"Everybody is a lot busier, so they get a little lazier with safeguarding their personal information," he said.

For better protection, law enforcement officials recommend people copy the contents of their wallets and purses, save receipts and check them against monthly statements, buy and use gift cards as quickly as possible, be aware of people standing nearby when making purchases, and do not leave valuables or items containing personal information --such as PDAs, computers, etc. - unattended.