Oct 22, 2007 8:11 pm US/Central
CTA Employee Accused Of Stealing Credit Card Info
CHICAGO (Sun-Times Media Wire) ―
A CTA customer service representative allegedly stole credit card information from transit customers, and the agency is moving to fire her.
Miranda Smith, 22, of Chicago is the only one of the three people charged in the scheme who was a CTA employee, according to a CTA release issued Monday. Smith, whom the CTA "has begun termination proceedings against," is currently in jail because she is unable to post bond, the release said.
She has admitted to using credit card numbers for personal gain, the release said.
According to the CTA, Smith handled credit card transactions for 373 customers. Based on an investigation by the CTA's Inspector General, the agency believes the number of victims may be about 10 percent of that 373. The CTA is notifying all 373 customers who may be potential victims and will offer credit monitoring services for a period of one year, according to the release.
Smith was charged Friday with one count of financial identity theft, according to Cook County State's Attorney's office spokesman Andy Conklin. Bond was set at $50,000 on Saturday, and Smith will be back in court for a preliminary hearing at 9 a.m. Thursday in West Felony Court (Br. 44), 3150 W. Flournoy.
The CTA release said charges included official misconduct, aggravated identity theft and three counts of identity theft. The names of the other two people involved were not immediately available.
The CTA Inspector General investigated after a customer noticed unauthorized activity on a credit card account used for CTA fare. Days later, Chicago Police contacted the CTA regarding a similar complaint and the investigations were combined, the release said.
The release did not detail how long it took CTA to notify customers that their credit card information may have been at risk.
CTA employees who handle credit card information will undergo additional training and monitoring, the release said, and will be required to provide a daily log of transactions.
The CTA is also recommending customers who notice a problem notify their credit card companies and contact the Inspector General's office at (773) 282-8463.
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(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2009. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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