Overcoming Identity Theft: A Long, Hard Battle
In 2004 alone, more than 11 million people were victims of identity theft. Since then, the problem has continued to grow, especially given the economic despair many are facing during the current recession.
That means you should learn all you can about the different ways to protect your identity before you become a victim, as well as what to do to fix the problem if you become the next victim.
When a thief steals your identity, they can open bank accounts in your name, apply for credit cards and jobs in your name, file bankruptcy in your name, and do many other things that can jeopardize your finances and credit rating, but that that’s not all: there are some identity thieves who will even kill in your name.
The way they work is that they will change your account addresses so that you can receive statements for those accounts at those new addresses. They do this to confuse law enforcement officials, who then have a harder time discovering and prosecuting identity thieves. Criminals can open phone accounts, be they landlines or cell phones, and initiate public services in your name. They often open bank accounts in your name and write checks on them, emptying the accounts and leaving you facing penalty.
Thieves committing crimes in your name will gladly drop you if they get caught. This means that if the thief is caught and does not appear in court, law enforcement officials who believe you are the perpetrator can summon you to court. For example, a criminal may obtain a driver’s license in her name so that you will be held accountable if you are arrested for drunk or otherwise dangerous driving.
If you discover that you have been the victim of identity theft, you must aggressively fight to reclaim your good name. There is a wealth of information available online to help you fight the long battle that begins when you become a victim of identity theft. There are also online discussion forums where victims can discuss their situation freely and gain a support network of people who have been through it and know how to help, all without revealing any personal information.
One of the most valuable tools you can use to fight this type of identity theft is to make sure that wherever you are, you have witnesses who can vouch for your whereabouts at any given time. They can testify in court on your behalf. Date and time stamped purchase receipts are also useful as ways to show where you were and when. Protecting your identity is crucial in today’s digital age.
If you do become the victim of an identity thief, know that no one will work harder than you to restore your good name and put the criminal behind bars. Unfortunately, the law will likely put a caught identity thief out of business for less time than it will take you to recover your identity, and society as a whole will pay more to address the ongoing threat and consequences of identity theft than the thief. . You will never be charged for your offense if you are caught. Still, there is justice in knowing that you can, with a lot of effort, see the light at the end of the tunnel caused by identity theft.