Re: Fraud and Indentity theft :long sorry

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Posted by Allison on March 28, 2001 at 20:55:31:

In Reply to: Fraud and Indentity theft :long sorry posted by Lou on October 16, 2000 at 23:37:19:

Welcome to the new crime of the century. I went through something similar, but it was a member of my family that used my SSN, DOB, and personal info to obtain credit cards and credit offers that came in the mail. The family member then rented a PO box and scammed creditors, and me, for 6 years without my knowledge. I was single, and had no reason such as a home purchase to order my credit report. To make a long story short, one day I charged something to a credit card, and it was denied. With no balance to my knowledge on the card, I became curious and began investigating further, and following paper trails to my family's home. I discovered 50K that I'd known nothing about, all charged in my name. The credit bureaus, the police, and particularly the creditors were unsympathetic. Although I signed affidavits of fraud and was willing to press charges,the police were thoroughly uninterested in helping me. I hired attorneys, only to pay them exhorbitant fees, and ended up keeping records and correspondence with the creditors and the credit bureaus myself. Many of the creditors expected me to pay for accouunts they were unwilling to release purchase records for. Many creditors admitted they had no signature on file to compare - they'd opened up accounts over the phone, with no verification! Others did finally compare signatures and purchase histories and released the debt, however, this was the exception, not the rule. Typically, the creditors used scare tactics, telling me if I didn't pay on the balances until they completed their 'fraud investigation' my credit would be ruined. Here was their trick - once you start paying on an account, regardless of whether you incurred the charges, you have assumed responsibility for it. The bureaus required letters, with repetitive copies of my adress/phone bills,a copy of my SS card, and driver's license - that is standard. Be prepared to have to send ALL letters 'return receipt' as it is the ONLY WAY you can verify your communications with them. The same goes for all creditor correspondence. I too put a block on my credit with the 3 agencies, yet I still receive credit offers on the mail. This financially destroyed me, not to mention lawyer fees and the countless hours I spent writing the creditors requesting records, explaining that I didn't incur the charges, sheer aggravation, etc. It is my hope that identity theft will become a matter of Congress before too long - someone must do something to address this crime, be it a stranger of family member. My advice - write the Ameritech, recap the entire story with them, send copies of this to the 3 agencies, and demand it be removed from your credit report. Make sure you send it 'return receipt' so they cannot claim they did not receive information from you. Keep a copy of all of this correspondence. If you have to apply for a loan, many lenders are willing to look at such documentation when considering you for a loan.

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: Welcome to the new crime of the century. I went through something similar, but it was a member of my family that used my SSN, DOB, and personal info to obtain credit cards and credit offers that came in the mail. The family member then rented a PO box and scammed creditors, and me, for 6 years without my knowledge. I was single, and had no reason such as a home purchase to order my credit report. To make a long story short, one day I charged something to a credit card, and it was denied. With no balance to my knowledge on the card, I became curious and began investigating further, and following paper trails to my family's home. I discovered 50K that I'd known nothing about, all charged in my name. The credit bureaus, the police, and particularly the creditors were unsympathetic. Although I signed affidavits of fraud and was willing to press charges,the police were thoroughly uninterested in helping me. I hired attorneys, only to pay them exhorbitant fees, and ended up keeping records and correspondence with the creditors and the credit bureaus myself. Many of the creditors expected me to pay for accouunts they were unwilling to release purchase records for. Many creditors admitted they had no signature on file to compare - they'd opened up accounts over the phone, with no verification! Others did finally compare signatures and purchase histories and released the debt, however, this was the exception, not the rule. Typically, the creditors used scare tactics, telling me if I didn't pay on the balances until they completed their 'fraud investigation' my credit would be ruined. Here was their trick - once you start paying on an account, regardless of whether you incurred the charges, you have assumed responsibility for it. The bureaus required letters, with repetitive copies of my adress/phone bills,a copy of my SS card, and driver's license - that is standard. Be prepared to have to send ALL letters 'return receipt' as it is the ONLY WAY you can verify your communications with them. The same goes for all creditor correspondence. I too put a block on my credit with the 3 agencies, yet I still receive credit offers on the mail. This financially destroyed me, not to mention lawyer fees and the countless hours I spent writing the creditors requesting records, explaining that I didn't incur the charges, sheer aggravation, etc. It is my hope that identity theft will become a matter of Congress before too long - someone must do something to address this crime, be it a stranger of family member. My advice - write the Ameritech, recap the entire story with them, send copies of this to the 3 agencies, and demand it be removed from your credit report. Make sure you send it 'return receipt' so they cannot claim they did not receive information from you. Keep a copy of all of this correspondence. If you have to apply for a loan, many lenders are willing to look at such documentation when considering you for a loan.

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