North Hollywood Man Held on Fraud, Theft
A North Hollywood man suspected of running a highly sophisticated computer hacking and credit fraud operation from two apartments has been arrested, officials said Saturday.
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputy Hal Grant said Danny Shafer, 25, was arrested about 12:25 p.m. Friday at his residence in the 7600 block of Laurel Canyon Boulevard. Investigators seized numerous computers, credit and ATM cards, $6,000 in cash and a plate of the county seal from his residence and another apartment that he maintained.
Also seized were a stolen handgun, an ounce of methamphetamine and several syringes, Grant said.
Shafer, who was booked on suspicion of computer fraud and grand theft, was being held in lieu of $500,000 bail, Grant said.
The arrest came after investigators, following up on a tip, tapped Shafer’s phone line and discovered that TRW credit files were being accessed using a computer modem and a business access code, Grant said. Credit information was obtained and credit cards were sent to several mail drops.
About 50 people were affected by the scheme, with losses totaling more than $100,000, he said. The victims will be contacted by sheriff’s investigators.
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