WHAT: New York City authorities indicted 111 suspects in a $13 million identity theft ring described as the biggest in U.S. history. The gang had ties as far away as Africa and spent their loot on nationwide shopping sprees, five-star hotels and private jets.

HOW: “Shoppers” were allegedly given forged credit cards with stolen account numbers and sent on multicity shopping sprees to buy high-end electronics, expensive jewelry and other consumer luxuries for resale over the Internet.

WHY IT’S OUTRAGEOUS: Even though the 111 suspects are being prosecuted after the 16-month Operation Swiper investigation, their thousands of victims still face the difficult task of trying to repair their ruined credit ratings and financial reputations.