A homeless man acted like a regular Frank Abagnale Jr. — stealing personal information through a temp job to live the high life like the Leonardo DiCaprio character in “Catch Me If You Can,” for more than a year until his greed got him caught, the Queens DA’s office said Tuesday.
Rafal Bogun, 33, is accused of stealing the personal information of more than 20 clients while working as a temp at a law firm, using the IDs to open up credit cards, book hotel stays and shop online, authorities said.
His scam began in 2013 when he allegedly began using personal identifying information of the firm’s workers compensation claimants.
“Similar to the lead character played by Leonardo DiCaprio in the movie ‘Catch Me If You Can,’ the defendant allegedly played out a complicated game of cat and mouse with law enforcement for over a year,” said Queens DA Richard Brown.
“He is alleged to have caused credit fiascos for his victims and bilked hotels and online retailers out of thousands of dollars.”
The DiCaprio wannabe got away with the scam for so long because store credit cards are available to use immediately after they’re approved and hotels often give out free night stays after opening a new credit card, Brown said.
In one instance, Bogun opened a Marriott Rewards Visa card with a $14,200 credit limit under a Queens woman’s name after staying overnight at a hotel in East Farmingdale, Brown said.
Records showed Bogun had stayed overnight at a Marriott Towne Place Suites in East Farmingdale on Sept. 23, 2013 – also under the same woman’s name.
Meanwhile, a different woman from Queens found out she was the victim of identity theft when she received a credit card statement in the mail saying she owed nearly $450 for two online purchases on a Walmart Discover card.
Video surveillance allegedly showed Bogun picking up the merchandise he bought on the Walmart website at a store in Farmingdale, said Brown.
Authorities launched an investigation after the NYPD received a complaint from a victim whose identity Bogun used to open and use several credit cards.
He was collared earlier this month when he allegedly tried selling an undercover cop a discounted Amtrak ticket at Penn Station under a fake name.
He was charged with unlawful possession of personal identification and criminal possession of stolen property in that case.
Last Friday, he was arraigned in Queens Criminal Court on multiple counts of identity theft, criminal possession of a forged instrument, scheme to defraud and other charges.
He is being held on $100,000 and returns to court Nov. 24.
