Police seek chameleon-like ID thief

Huntington Beach Police have issued an arrest warrant for a woman suspected of cheating a number of banks and retailers out of more than $250,000 over the last year.

On Feb. 9, 2006, Holly Marie Klosowicz, 37, of Long Beach allegedly withdrew $3,200 from the Bank of America at 5812 Edinger Ave. in Huntington Beach using a stolen identity, Det. Dave Humphreys said. The next day, a woman using the same identity withdrew $8,300 from a Bank of America branch in Long Beach.

Klosowicz allegedly returned to the Huntington Beach branch on Feb. 11 hoping to withdraw more, but left before she could complete the transaction, probably suspecting that the bank was wise to her, Humphreys said.

“By that time, the victim, who had been doing her own online banking, realized her funds had quickly diminished” and contacted police, Humphreys said.

Other attempts were made under the same victim’s name at a Manhattan Beach branch, but that was unsuccessful as well.

Police identified Klosowicz from video taken at the Huntington Beach branch and discovered another piece to the story.

“As I further investigated the suspect, I found that she was going into large retail merchants in the Los Angeles and Orange County areas posing as different people, obtaining memberships and instant credit, which would allow for various credit amounts,” Humphreys said.

Klosowicz is suspected of assuming 10 identities in the last year using stolen personal information. Police, however, do not know how she might have obtained this information, Humphreys said Monday.

With those identities, Klosowicz allegedly opened a number of retail memberships at different merchants that promote instant credit, Humphreys said.

Police estimate the losses to known victims, merchants and the banks to be roughly $250,000, although Humphreys said the amount is likely higher.

“We’re convinced she is part of a moderate- to large-scale ID theft ring in the Los Angeles and Orange County areas,” Humphreys said.

Police have obtained nine photos of Klosowicz taken from various accounts opened at the same two or three large-membership merchants.

“She was very clever in changing her appearance from business attire to the soccer-mom look,” Humphreys said.

Humphreys has been working with multiple Los Angeles County police departments, including Manhattan Beach, Long Beach and Signal Hill authorities. Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies had a file on Klosowicz’s suspected activities but were unable to identify her until contacted by Huntington Beach police, Humphreys said.