Auburn - the Cayuga County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a Cayuga County Jail inmate in connection with an identity theft scam, which he was conducting over the telephone, from within the jail.

Eduardo Camacho aka Eddie Cruz, 24, was arrested at 3:30 p.m. Monday at the Cayuga County Jail following an investigation which began last week. Sheriff’s Office detectives learned that Camacho and associates of his were telephoning citizens and impersonating members of the Cayuga County District Attorney’s Office, attempting to obtain the citizens personal identification information such as dates of birth and social security numbers. 

The motive behind the scam was to obtain credit or services in the victim’s names.  The Sheriff’s Office has identified two other co-conspirators from the Skaneateles Falls area who are involved in the scam and charges are pending when the investigation is complete.  On May 9, detectives executed a search warrant at 656 School Street in Skaneateles Falls, N.Y. at which time physical evidence, including personal identification information of potential victims was recovered.

Camacho was charged with conspiracy in the fourth degree, criminal impersonation in the second degree, and unlawful possession of personal identification information.

The Sheriff’s Office is urging anyone who received a telephone call from a person purporting to be a member of the Cayuga County District Attorney’s Office, any other public official, or any other person involved in Law Enforcement or the legal profession who requested personal identification information, contact Detective Jeffrey Applebee at (315) 253-1132.  The public should be aware that Public Officials do not telephone citizens asking for that kind of information.