Would-be ID thieves create holy mess

NEW YORK, Jan. 7 (UPI) -- Priests may take vows of poverty, but a New York bishop didn't want his finances drained because of identity theft and potential credit card fraud.

Sometime during the Christmas holiday, thieves learned Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio's Social Security number and birth date, then used the information to apply for credit cards in his name, the New York Daily News reported Wednesday.

"His identity was compromised," Diocese of Brooklyn spokesman the Rev. Kieran Harrington said.

But no bad deed goes unpunished, and the thieves unwittingly erred when they applied for new MasterCard credit cards in DiMarzio's name.

"The bishop has an account with MasterCard, so they called him and asked him, 'Did you order new cards?'" Harrington said.

After telling the company no, he called the police, who are investigating.

"Crooks have no regard for anyone," a police source told the Daily news, "even a man of the cloth."