While most people would like to think that crime won’t happen to them, that’s often not the reality. In the case of identity theft, anyone, no matter what their social status or age, can fall victim to this crime. The consequences of this crime can be quite substantial. In fact, it can really ruin your financial security, resulting in long battles to restore your good name.
An Identity Theft Story
Mellissa Hastings, whose name has been changed, was arrested seven different times over a year and half’s time for warrants on cocaine possession, speeding, and failure to appear in court. Just two years earlier, a woman had used Mellissa’s name, date of birth, and social security when she was arrested for possession of cocaine. Not only did this woman miss court, she continued to use Mellissa’s name and social security number to open a number of credit accounts, all of which eventually went into collections. Each time Mellissa was arrested, the law enforcement agencies and courts would acknowledge the mistake made when the other woman was arrested and promise to withdraw the warrant. It took seven arrests and an attorney to finally get the problem rectified.
Mellissa spent four and half years trying to repair the damage to her credit report. Because there were so many occasions when her name and social security number were used, it took almost two years for Melissa to even become aware of all the damage. After almost $7,000 in attorney fees and hours spent on the phone, writing letters, and providing documentation, her identity is truly her own again. Will it only be so until the woman that used her name in the first is released from prison?
How the Identity Theft Occurred
Melissa’s purse was stolen when she was at a restaurant with friends. She had inadvertently walked away from the table after dinner, realizing as she got to the door that she had forgotten her purse. In just those couple of minutes, her purse was stolen and the nightmare would begin. This simply oversight would be referred to as the “the incident” in later years because it completely changed her life.
In Closing
If you think identity theft cannot happen to you, think again. Because these criminals operate in so many different ways, it’s almost impossible to completely prevent this crime. However, you can take steps to reduce your chances of becoming a victim, including protecting your personal information, monitoring your credit and bank accounts, and watching all online activities.