Massive ID Theft Scheme Targeted Collection Agencies as Customers

A business owner, a state worker and seven bank employees were charged Thursday with taking part in a scheme in which the financial records of thousands of bank customers were allegedly stolen and sold to collection agencies.

Authorities say the alleged mastermind, Orazio Lembo Jr., 35, of Hackensack, made millions of dollars through the scheme but spent most of it on a fast-paced lifestyle.

According to authorities, Lembo received lists of people sought for debt collection and turned that information over to the seven bank workers, who would compare those names to their client lists. The bank workers were paid $10 for each account they turned over to Lembo, Zisa said.

Lembo also was accused of paying Orlando Rivera, 42, of New Milford, a manager in the Jersey City office of the New Jersey Department of Labor, for the employment records of people targeted by law firms or collection agencies.

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