A Queens businessman fixed bad credit the easy way — he stole new IDs for his clients, authorities said.
Benjamin Cardova, 45, owner of Financial Institution Recovery Services, in Richmond Hill, allegedly used a rubber stamp with a Georgia judge’s and clerk’s names to approve customers with forged name-change documents.
He allegedly charged between $700 to $3,000 to create a fresh start with credit-reporting agencies.
“Instead of throwing them a lifeline, in reality, he was alleged to have exposed businesses to bad debtors who were financially drowning and assisted their customers in burying themselves deeper in debt,” said Queens DA Richard Brown.
Cardova instructed more than a dozen customers to use the documents to get replacement New York driver’s licenses and reset their credit scores, Brown said.
Cardova was charged with criminal possession of a forged instrument, grand larceny and other charges.
Brown asks other victims to call his office at (718)-286-7013.