Win Ben Bernanke’s Money (Irony)

It looks like, for some, the stimulus package wasn't enough. In an ironic twist, the man often criticized for moving Trillions from the Federal Reserve Bank into the hands of failing corporations has had a far lesser sum removed from his personal bank account.

"Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke has been a victim of identity theft. His credit card company became suspicious when they noticed repeated purchases of large, failing American car companies."

- Conan O'Brien (Aired August 27, 2009)

Just days after President Obama announced Bernanke's renomination to the Federal Reserve, officials revealed that Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke was a victim of a wide-spread identity theft ring that used, "stolen personal identifying information, bank and bank record information, personal checks, and other access devices belonging to individual victims, to impersonate those victims at various bank branches throughout the country," according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

"Identity theft is a serious crime that affects millions of Americans each year," Mr. Bernanke said through a Fed spokesman. "Our family was but one of 500 separate instances traced to one crime ring."

Though there's really nothing funny about identity theft, it just goes to prove that the problem is so pervasive that anyone can fall victim.

About Jeff M. Fischbach

Jeff Michael Fischbach is founder and President of SecondWave Information Systems (SecondWave.com), a consulting firm specializing in Forensic Technology. Since 1994, he has served as a board member and technology adviser to numerous professional organizations and corporations. Mr. Fischbach has been engaged as a litigation consultant and Forensic Examiner, offering expert advice and oversight on matters involving intellectual property, computers, information systems, satellite, tracking and wireless communications technologies. He has advised law enforcement, foreign government representatives, judges, lawyers and the press.