(WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Police in Lake Forest say there may have been hundreds of victims of identity theft across the Chicago area, and they have the alleged ringleader in custody.
Two men have been arrested and charged in connection with the operation. Lake Forest Police say there will probably be more arrests.
The mastermind, they say, is 32-year-old Jamelle McBride of Homer Glen, in Will County.
Authorities believe McBride led a theft ring that got information from the so-called Dark Web. He obtained things like names and driver’s license numbers and then used equipment to make fake credit cards and fake driver’s licenses. He allegedly bought more than $1 million of stuff and then re-sold a lot of it.
A Lake Forest detective says McBride was tracked down after a two-year investigation by looking at surveillance video from stores like Home Depot.
Also arrested and charged with felonies in the case was Brenden Butler, 22, also of Homer Glen.
The police advise people to let them know if your bank informs you of a fraudulent purchase made in your name — don’t let it go.