June 26, 2016: Supergirl Helps Crack Identity Theft Scheme

supergirl-passportIdentity Theft is a growing problem in today’s world, but a Supergirl fan recently helped crack an international criminal scheme.

The schemes, which allegedly roped in hundreds of victims and millions of dollars, relied in part on scouring the internet for mugshot-type photos that could plausibly be plugged onto fake IDs that could be used in credit applications, charges and financial transactions, according to investigators who tracked the ring for two years.That’s where actress Laura Vandervoort, who played Supergirl on TV, comes in. On one fake passport, the suspects used a photo of Vandervoort, said Joshua Stueve, spokesman for the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, which is prosecuting the case. Vandervoort’s picture was a mugshot-style photo used as a prop when she played the role of Lisa on the sci-fi show V.

While combing through evidence in the early stages of the case, one agent instantly recognized her picture as Supergirl from another sci-fi show, Smallville. The discovery helped agents realize the extent to which the ring had gone to support its scheme.

Arrests have been made in the case, with the investigation continuing to uncover further leads.

Read the full report at the Washington Post. Read another Washington Post report here.