Rich pickings in dumps for ID card scavengers
By Li Qian |
October 19, 2011, Wednesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
IDENTITY cards found by garbage sorting workers in southern China are being snapped up by "ID scavengers" who resell them online, it was reported yesterday.
The thriving business has raised concerns that the cards are ending up in the hands of criminals, China Central TV reported.
Cards uncovered by workers sifting through garbage at landfills are sold on for an average price of 17.5 yuan (US$2.7) each. These are resold online for between 50 and 250 yuan.
Criminals can use the ID cards to open bank accounts to engage in fraud and money laundering operations.
Most of the cards are found in wallets or handbags taken by pickpockets and robbers.
After removing the cash, thieves often discard the wallet or handbag - together with its remaining contents - in the nearest trash bin.
From there, they are taken with garbage to the dump.
A garbage sorting worker in a landfill in Fanyu City of Guangdong Province told the Guangzhou Daily newspaper that two or three motorcyclists came every week to purchase ID cards.
"They buy lots of ID cards," she said. "If there's a pile about four or five centimeters - more than 50 cards, they'll take all of them."
Especially prized are second-generation ID cards, those issued since 2004. And those with a date of birth after 1970 can fetch a higher price, say insiders.
ID card fraud is a growing problem in China. Criminals sometimes try to dupe members of the public into revealing their ID card number by telephoning and posing as police officers or legal officials.
It is estimated that one million people lose or have their ID cards stolen each year in China.
Banks that are less stringent in identity checks, in order to make it easier for people to open accounts with them, have been blamed for making ID theft an easier crime.
The thriving business has raised concerns that the cards are ending up in the hands of criminals, China Central TV reported.
Cards uncovered by workers sifting through garbage at landfills are sold on for an average price of 17.5 yuan (US$2.7) each. These are resold online for between 50 and 250 yuan.
Criminals can use the ID cards to open bank accounts to engage in fraud and money laundering operations.
Most of the cards are found in wallets or handbags taken by pickpockets and robbers.
After removing the cash, thieves often discard the wallet or handbag - together with its remaining contents - in the nearest trash bin.
From there, they are taken with garbage to the dump.
A garbage sorting worker in a landfill in Fanyu City of Guangdong Province told the Guangzhou Daily newspaper that two or three motorcyclists came every week to purchase ID cards.
"They buy lots of ID cards," she said. "If there's a pile about four or five centimeters - more than 50 cards, they'll take all of them."
Especially prized are second-generation ID cards, those issued since 2004. And those with a date of birth after 1970 can fetch a higher price, say insiders.
ID card fraud is a growing problem in China. Criminals sometimes try to dupe members of the public into revealing their ID card number by telephoning and posing as police officers or legal officials.
It is estimated that one million people lose or have their ID cards stolen each year in China.
Banks that are less stringent in identity checks, in order to make it easier for people to open accounts with them, have been blamed for making ID theft an easier crime.
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