Man Steals Identity of ... One of World's Richest Men

It just seems obvious that this was going to end really badly

By Kate Seamons, Newser Staff

Posted Mar 27, 2012 9:59 AM CDT

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Guy Busted for Trying to Swipe ID of Microsoft's Allen — Microsoft co-founders Bill Gates (C) and Paul Allen (L) watches a basketball game, 26 May 2000. (Getty Images)

Ways to land in trouble:

Go AWOL.
Fund your AWOL lifestyle via identity theft.
Snatch the identity of one of the world's richest men.

So goes the case against Brandon Lee Price, who now faces bank fraud charges for allegedly swiping the identity of Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, reports the AP.

According to a criminal complaint unsealed yesterday, Price phoned Citibank in January and changed the address on Allen's account from Seattle to Pittsburgh (which makes so much sense!). He then requested a new debit card. Big surprise: That much happened. Price then allegedly made $15,000 in purchases using the card, including paying a delinquent Armed Forces Bank account and stocking up at a video game store. He was arrested on March 2 and will be detained until April 2 unless the Army takes him into custody. (More strange stuff stories.)

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