Brazen identity thief nets $15,500 from Wachovia

In a brazen example of identity theft, a woman walked into three Wachovia banks in Cherokee County and used counter checks to withdraw $15,500 from a Florida woman’s account.

The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office on Monday released security camera photos of the suspect, hoping someone will recognize her.

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Suspect inside the bank.

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Suspect who used fake ID to withdraw $15,500 at three Wachovia banks in Woodstock and Canton.

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Anyone who recognizes the suspect is urged to call investigators at 678-493-4066.

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The withdrawals occurred on two days last month. On the first day, the woman took out $4,500 at one Woodstock bank, then $6,500 at another. On the second day, she withdrew $4,500 from a Wachovia in Canton.

It is unclear how the suspect got the victim’s bank account number and other personal information. The victim lives in Fort Myers, Fla., and the account was opened in Florida.

“She used fake identification with her picture on it and the victim’s personal information,” Lt. Jay Baker said. “It looked real. She just filled out counter checks and made them out to ‘cash.’”

Baker said the victim has no connection to Cherokee County or the surrounding area.

“People have their IDs stolen all the time, and there’s a number of ways that can occur,” he said.

Anyone who recognizes the suspect is urged to call investigators at 678-493-4066.