Theft or possession of other people’s Social Security numbers is unlawful. State and federal authorities are determined to crack down on identity theft and other related forms of fraud. Prosecutors are particularly tough on individuals who seek to exploit government programs like Social Security or Medicaid. If you are found guilty of participating in or…

New York officials often warn the public about various phishing schemes. One of the latest ones is related to the COVID-19 pandemic. New York’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) warned of a text message phishing scam that asks New Yorkers to disclose their COVID-19 vaccination status. The DMV asked anyone who receives such messages to…

A former doctor from Albany, New York, was ordered to pay the U.S. government $125,000 for overprescribing controlled substances to patients. He was also required to give up his New York State medical license. Federal officials accused Dr. James Cole of prescribing high levels of controlled substances beyond the usual scope of his professional practice.…

White collar crimes are aggressively prosecuted in New York. The term covers many different offenses that range from bank fraud and computer crimes to identity theft and securities fraud. A man from the Bronx, New York, pleaded guilty to several charges in connection to an international money laundering scheme that involved more than $12 million…