Investigators: Con artist befriended bank employees who helped him carry out ID theft scheme

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- An important reminder: Your bank account information may not be as secure as you think. Con artists and a group of corrupt bank employees pulled off a lucrative identity theft scheme -- and the case is serving as a warning for others.

"Mr. Davis was very successful in befriending bank employees," U.S. Postal Inspector David Anderchek said.

Investigators say Ray Davis was a "smooth talker" who recruited bank employees to help him carry out his scam. He would pay those employees $50 for a bank customer's personal information.

"With that information he was able to produce counterfeit checks, change the address of the account, basically take over the account," Anderchek said.

Davis would then recruit women to go into stores and purchase merchandise.

"He would produce counterfeit identification and have them open up lines of credit for making purchases and visit retailers using counterfeit ID and checks to purchase TVS, electronics, furniture," Anderchek said.

The goal was simple -- max out each credit line.

"They would bust out the line and then abandon it," Anderchek said.

Fifteen victims lost $84,000 in the scheme.

"It`s very popular and very efficient," Anderchek said.

The investigation led right to Ray Davis, but he didn't give up easily.

"Our case involved three pursuits with Mr. Davis," Anderchek said.

They eventually caught him, but the damage was done.

Some advice: Constantly check to make sure your personal information hasn't been stolen.

"They need to be right on top of their statements every month and credit accounts to identify accounts that are not legitimate," Anderchek said.

Davis was charged with aggravated ID theft and sentenced to three years in prison.