Fake IDs, Real Problems: Global Identity Theft Ring Busted!
Zahid Hasan, a Bangladeshi national, has been indicted for running a global identity theft operation selling fake IDs online. His digital templates for US passports and Montana driver’s licenses have allegedly earned him millions. The FBI and international partners swooped in, proving that crime doesn’t pay, but it might get you free housing.
Hot Take:
Who knew you could order a fake Montana driver’s license online for the price of a cappuccino? Zahid Hasan, apparently! This Bangladeshi entrepreneur turned the dark web into an unlicensed ‘Office Depot’ for identity thieves worldwide. It’s like saying, “Why buy a plane ticket to Montana when you can just buy the license?” But the FBI decided to close this international identity-theft bazaar. Talk about a plot twist worthy of a Netflix series!
Key Points:
- Zahid Hasan, a Bangladeshi man, was indicted for selling digital templates for fake IDs worldwide.
- His online shops offered templates for documents like US passports and Montana driver’s licenses.
- The price for these templates was surprisingly low, yet they brought in over $2.9 million in revenue.
- The FBI and international partners seized his domains and tracked him through Bitcoin transactions.
- Hasan faces up to 15 years in prison for each count of ID fraud and hefty fines.