Police: Florida Man Set Up Fake Job Interviews To Steal Applicants’ Identities

FILE - In this April 24, 2012, file photo, job seeker Alan Shull attends a job fair in Portland, Ore. The number of people applying for U.S. unemployment benefits ticked down last week after dropping sharply the pre... FILE - In this April 24, 2012, file photo, job seeker Alan Shull attends a job fair in Portland, Ore. The number of people applying for U.S. unemployment benefits ticked down last week after dropping sharply the previous week, evidence hiring could pick up this month. Weekly applications dropped 1,000 to a seasonally adjusted 367,000 in the week ending May 5, the Labor Department said Thursday, May 10, 2012. The previous week's figure was revised up slightly. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File) MORE LESS
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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Police say a Florida man set up fake job interviews and even collected urine samples from potential applicants, so he could access their Social Security numbers, bank information and other personal data.

Gerald Howard Washington was charged with criminal use of personal identification information and organized communications fraud after Tallahassee police say he stole personal information from multiple job seekers.

Authorities said Wednesday that Washington posted online ads claiming he was hiring for 1,100 Tallahassee-based jobs. He set up a temporary office in the state capital and personally met with many of the job seekers. He also allegedly accessed their Social Security numbers, bank information and collected a $25 application fee.

Authorities say Washington told applicants they were hired and gave them a start date, even though the jobs did not exist.

Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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