$100,000 identity thieves caught.

A Philadelphia couple are facing charges of committing an estimated $100,000 in fraud in order to fund their extravagant lifestyle.

The pair of American jet-setters, who have been likened to a modern day Bonnie and Clyde, financed their high-life by using the credit cards of their unsuspecting neighbours, in their upmarket apartment building, as well as other identity theft victims, according to Philadelphia police.

Jocelyn Kirsch, 22, and Edward K. Anderton, 25, have been charged with identity theft, forgery, unlawful use of a computer and a whole host of other offences.

Jetsetting

Their fraudulent scheme, believed to have netted the pair in excess of $US100,000 this year, paid for trips to Paris, London and Hawaii.

There were also other extravagances, such as Kirsch’s $US2200 hair extensions, police said.

According to Detective Terry Sweeney, ‘They were two young people that were given many gifts in life, and the very best thing they could do was victimise other people.’

Investigation

Police began investigating the pair on November the 19th after one of their neighbours reported that she thought her identity had been stolen.

The very next day the woman discovered that she had a package awaiting collection, even though she had not ordered anything.

Police lay in wait at the postal office and arrested both Anderton and Kirsch when they arrived to pick up the package, detectives said.

A subsequent search of the couple’s apartment led to the discovery of four computers, two printers, a scanner and an industrial machine used in the production of ID cards.

Keys

Police also discovered $US17,500 in cash, a large number of credit cards, fake drivers’ licences, and the keys to many of the other apartments in their block.

Additionally, police also found a book called ‘The Art of Cheating: A Nasty Little Book for Tricky Little Schemers and Their Hapless Victims’, as well as a newspaper articles that gave advice on how to spot fake IDs.

Police believe the identity thefts began over 2 years ago and may include victims from far beyond the fraudsters’ apartment.

Detective Sweeney fears that police will find more than the five victims known so far, one of whom was defrauded out of $US30,000.

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