SEARCH NEWS:

 

Money Scam Threw Victims into a Tailspin

```People think they're safe, but there's nothing I could have done to protect myself, which is the scary part,' said Melissa McNamee, a Wellesley legal assistant who closely guarded her Social Security number.

``McNamee has spent hours on the phone proving to rental car companies, credit bureaus and Sears that she is not the Hispanic transvestite who got a Florida license in her name and dropped $15,000 in Las Vegas casinos.

``...The pair scammed $2 million in 15 months from at least 20 people - including a dozen attorneys - after Pelley returned to his life of crime weeks after his release from federal prison in April 2001.

``Federal marshals working with U.S. postal inspectors nabbed Pelley and Cornejo Saturday night in Manhattan after a chase.

``Investigators said Pelley is a smooth operator who manipulated credit card companies' phone representatives.

``...Pelley was on supervised release when he allegedly assumed the identity of Peter Pan Bus Co. President Peter Picknelly last year and withdrew $52,000 from his bank accounts, according to investigators.

``In 1994, Pelley had tried to get a job at Peter Pan but was turned down, according to fraud investigators. With full pockets, Pelley headed to the West Coast with the stolen identity of Boston corporate attorney Scott A. Joseph, who is in his 30s.

``...Investigators believe Pelley took out 15 credit lines in Joseph's name. Neither victim is sure how Pelley managed to access their Social Security numbers..."

< Gaming News