Calif. Billionaire's Tax Refund Stolen By ID Thief

[Kadie]

Aug 4, 2010 11:12 am US/Pacific
Calif. Billionaire's Tax Refund Stolen By ID Thief

LOS ANGELES (AP) ― A criminal complaint alleges California billionaire Donald Bren has had a $1.4 million tax refund check stolen from him in an identify theft case.

Bren, who is listed by Forbes as the 45th wealthiest man in the world, was allegedly targeted by an unknown man who set up bank accounts in his name earlier this year. Federal court documents allege the man deposited the refund check into one of the accounts before transferring the money out.

He will not be held accountable for the stolen money, which will be taken by the bank or its insurance.

Bren is chairman of the Irvine Co., a private real estate company with an investment portfolio with more than 85 million square feet in Southern California. Bren's reported net worth is $12 billion.

http://cbs13.com/crime/billionaire.id.theft.2.1842684.html

[MrScorpio]

1. This is amazing

Protect the rich, while the wealth has been stolen from the poor and the middle class for decades with nary a finger raised.

Welcome to America.

[valerief]

2. He could have even stolen it from himself. One way to get mo' $$$$. nt

[MrScorpio]

3. You know, that's not a bad idea

He could be doubling his money as we speak.

[damntexdem]

4. LOL! But of course he won't suffer as you or I would.

The bank or the insurance will cover it.

[snot]

5. How did the thief get the check?

[Politicalboi]

6. Could have been an electronic deposit

Only a million four. Chump change to this guy.

[hobbit709]

8. The bank account and routing number

would have to be on the original tax return. Something about this doesn't sound right.

[AngryAmish]

7. Or file a phony return for the guy, electronically accept state payment

clever