"American Greed," a new series on CNBC, explores the worlds of scams, cons and schemes.
In Episode #4, it's a new crime wave rippling across the west -– thieves are committing identity theft to fund their meth drug addictions.
THE THIEF
Michael Schrecongost
THE VICTIM
Virginia Dissette
THE D.A.
Joe Morales
SCENE 1 - A crime is committed -- a wallet is stolen. But the thief takes more than just money... the victim's identity is stolen, too.
SCENE 2 - The criminals are high on methamphetamines. Identity thieves fueled by the illegal stimulant are running rampant across America's west.
SCENE 3 - A new breed of detective is on the case. Criminal Fraud Investigators are out on the streets -- tracking and arresting suspects.
SCENE 4 - "American Greed" talks with the victims, and profiles the criminals and the new breed of detectives tracking them down.
Find out other ways identity thieves could be targeting you. Jim Stickley of Trace Security has advice.