Dead Men Could Be Selling You Food

Some food-cart vendors are serving up lunch specials with a hearty helping of identity theft. The NY Post reports the city's Department of Investigation is looking into widespread illegal renewal of food-cart permits by scammers who assume the identities of former food-cart operators. These permits—many of which belong to dead or emigrated vendors—are then renewed and resold for absurd premiums on the black market. Post reporters found some cart permits going for as much as $46,000, sold by a broker demanding, "Everything is in cash. Paid in full." Beyond the whole identity theft thing, of course, the scam also makes it harder for legitimate vendors to obtain permits, which, like taxi medallions, are issued in limited numbers. One Manhattan food-cart operator blames the way permit applications are handled for allowing these cheaters to prosper. Because permits can be renewed by mail, he says the scam becomes "an easy thing to get away with." Photo: dandeluca on Flickr

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By Jon Hill in News on June 15, 2009 12:47 PM

Comments [rss]

firewire

street vendor carts take up valuable sidewalk space. it'd be great if they weren't there at all.

but then there would just be more space for dogs to drop deuces or for "save the _____" people that try to get you to sign your name on things or give money.

r1b2

That explains the aroma.

r1b2

That explains the aroma.

longacre

3-1 odds those dirty water dogs are made of the dead men whose names are on the permits.

Snoopy

You can't beat street meats for fine food at an affordable price. Albeit I am usually sick about two hours after I consume same, but it does taste good going down.

ANGRYGOD11

The answer is simple: Audit.

Use fingerprints and photos and let everyone know at some point you will have to come in to verify your id to or you lose the permit.

hotstepper

harbor city, USA. now with extra zombies.

Mr Mel

Now the city has to investigate and prosecute. That's the good news. The bad news is by the time they get around to it the scammers and their vendor clients will be back in Yemen.

ANGRYGOD11

MMMMM!

ZOMBIE FOOD!

virgilstarkwell

anyone who eats food served by a brown person with no access to running water gets what they deserve.

tmz is evil

anyone who eats food served by a brown person with no access to running water gets what they deserve.

The same goes for anyone who eats food served by a white person WITH access to running water, since they have a habit in bathing in it.

http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline/2008/12/more-fast-food.html