Identities of Surfside collapse victims being stolen: Mayor

Surfside Mayor Charles Burkett on Friday said that the identities of the victims of the condominium collapse that claimed at least 97 lives have been stolen. The official, talking to a news outlet, confirmed that at least one victim has been targeted in the identity theft scam. 

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“It’s terrible. I can’t wait to put a face to these deeds right now, and I think all of South Florida is eager to see who would do something like this – what kind of person would do something like this. But I’m looking forward to our police department apprehending them, and they are out there looking. I wouldn’t want to be that person right now,” Burkett said, as per WPLG Local 10 reports. 

Rescue crews have recovered the remains of at least 97 victims from the rubble of the building as reported on Thursday. Ninety-two of those have been identified, and their families have been informed, local media reports. 

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The mayor added that officials have reached out to the families of victims who may be targeted. He also asked them to reach out to social security offices and check their credit.

“We want everyone to take steps to lock their credit down. We’re going to track down the people responsible for this and we’re going arrest them and make an example of them,” mayor Burkett told Insider. 

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However, he did not confirm the number of people who have been targetted. The number of people involved in the hack also remains unclear. When asked, Burkett declined to provide information on how the identities of the victims were able to be stolen, The Hill states. 

While talking to The Hill, Sgt. Marian Cruz of the Surfside Police Department said that police were in the early stages of the investigation. No details have been released yet in order to protect the integrity of the case and prevent further victimization.