Campus police confirm two cases of stolen identity
Mitch Hedifant
October 16, 2006
Filed under Uncategorized
College authorities have confirmed that two students have had their identities stolen.
SCC Dean of Admission and Records Catherine Fites said the thefts are being investigated by the police.
Steve Dawson, chief of police, said the investigation is in its most preliminary stages and that criminal conduct is thus far limited to the campus.
Dawson suggests that thieves have registered the students for classes they did not attend or dropped them from classes which they had attended.
Dawson speculated as to the identities of the perpetrators.
“I believe two friends had a falling out,” Dawson said.
“They’re still working together and getting back at one another.”
Dawson said other potential suspects may be anyone going through a divorce with a current student in which the divorce has turned especially acrimonious. The spouse may have possession of the students pass code for online registration and be able to withdraw the student from classes at will.
Dawson is quick to point out that another case of identity theft, resulting in financial aid fraud, which occurred several years ago was brought to light by a diligent employee in the financial aid department.
“One of Sal’s [Alcala, dean of financial aid] people noticed something didn’t jibe with the signatures,” Dawson said.
The fraud resulted in federal indictments and arrests in two states.
