 A suspected Russian mobster arraigned yesterday on multiple counts of identity fraud obtained personal information from more than 100 victims by sending bogus e-mails the targets believed came from their banks, sources said.
Andrew Schwarmkoff, 28, trolled for victims online to gain access to credit card numbers and other financial information, a process known as "phishing.''
"He'd send out phony e-mails saying he was from the bank and there's been
a mixup and they need to resend information to verify account numbers,'' said
one source familiar with the ongoing investigation.
 Schwarmkoff was ordered held on $100,000 cash bail yesterday
after being arraigned in Brighton District Court on multiple counts of credit
card fraud, identity fraud, larceny and receiving stolen property. He also is
being held on a detainer from the U.S. Marshals Service for being a fugitive
from justice for similar charges in Georgia. Suffolk Assistant District Attorney
Bruce Dean said Schwarmkoff is also the subject of an FBI investigation in New
Jersey.
Dean, who urged Judge Peter Anderson to hold Schwarmkoff without bail, said
investigators are unsure if they have even positively identified the illegal
alien who was busted Friday night with $200,000 worth of stolen merchandise,
high-tech computer and credit card scanning equipment, more than 100 ID cards
with fraudulently obtained information and nearly $15,000 in cash.
Sources said investigators believe Schwarmkoff is a member of the Russian
mob and has admitted entering the country illegally.
"We know some things that we don't want to comment about,'' a source said,
"but he's big time.''
The source said Schwarmkoff has made no effort to cooperate with police.
"Would you?'' asked the source, adding Schwarmkoff is more content to
sit in jail than risk the consequences of ratting out the Russian mob.
Tom Farmer, Boston Herald
Photo by Matt Stone, Boston Herald
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