RD Reflection: STOLEN IDENTITY

Karen’s ID had been stolen five months before. Her bank accounts had been emptied, and her life was sent reeling out of control. The thief had dipped into Karen's account like they were her own private piggy bank. She scammed thousands of dollars more, using credit cards she opened in Karen's name. The banks were unable to stop her. The police could do nothing. Creditors demanded payment for the thief’s transactions. Karen closed her accounts, only to have the criminal crack open the new ones she’d opened and drained those too.
Karen file police reports, closed her now empty account and submitted a claim. With no money to cover cheques, she couldn’t pay her bills, her rent. She couldn’t even buy groceries. Late fees were compounded by black marks on her credit report. And that was just the beginning. It drove Karen crazy that it took about two weeks for the bank’s credit card division to process the problem and recredit the money into her account. She felt hopeful when the bank called to tell her it had a surveillance video of the thief. On it Karen saw a big woman in the suede coat and designer sunglasses at an ATM. Karen signed an affidavit that she didn’t know the woman, got a printout of her image and that was it.
Meanwhile the thief reached deeper into Karen's life. She used her Social Security number and other information to get a counterfeit driver’s license, showing Karen's license number but the thief's picture. With the license and the Social Security number, she reopened accounts that Karen had closed years before. Karen placed fraud alerts with the credit reporting agencies. But that did not stop the thief from opening more accounts in Karen's name. Again and again, she asked the bank to put an alert on her account, but when she checked, it wasn’t there. The thief got into her new bank account, and the whole cycle began again. She was at her wit’s end. To add to her frustrations, the bank claimed Karen had failed to come in to view the surveillance video. It didn’t matter that she signed the affidavit. The bank cut off access to her funds. Now, with a phony driver’s license, the thief was stalking her third chequing account.
Just the day before, Karen’s bank had called after closing hours to tell her that she’d left her driver’s license at a branch on Market and Church streets. And her real driver’s license was still in her wallet. While waiting nervously for the bank on San Francisco’s market street to open, Karen ordered a latte at Starbucks. She couldn’t help but notice the scruffy looking pair standing next to her: a tall man wearing navy baseball jacket and a large woman in jeans and Gucci glasses, carrying a brown suede coat and a Prada purse. She recognize the women as the thief. The con artist must have come back to retrieve the phony license. After that Karen gave chase to the woman. After several attempts to escape, however, the police managed to arrest her.
Identity thief, Maria Nelson, had at least 60 prior arrest, was indeed on probation and was wanted in another jurisdiction for similar crimes. However, thanks to a plea deal with the prosecutor, she was sentenced to only time served plus probation. Meanwhile, Karen keeps getting billed for phone services and items she didn’t buy. And she fears her ID may have been sold on the black market, prolonging her nightmare.
Identity thieves like Maria Nelson are selfish people. For their own gain, they steal other’s identity and wreck their victim’s lives. They reach into other’s life and withdraw all their savings or splurge under their victim’s name. They never thought about how their actions have ruined their victim’s life. After getting the kick out of this habit; it is difficult for them to stop. They have never spared a thought or put themselves in to their victim’s shoes. They are very resourceful, to track down their victim’s important documents and other information. People like them are dangerous and cunning, that even the police are unable to track them down so easily. Criminals like them should not be let off so easily after they have created a mess out of their victim’s life.
Police should step up on security after such cases. They should have experience and think of more ways to apprehend such criminals. Their job is make life easier for everyone. Imagine if their own family members land up in a miserable state, because of identity thieves. It is understandable if apprehending these criminals are difficult, especially in such big countries. However they should have some system to help them locate criminals or even ex-criminals with ease. Investing some money into sophisticated systems would be better than letting innocent people be victims of crimes. Of course, the police should be assisted by the members of the public to work much effectively. Without the cooperation of the citizens, the police can never accomplish their task.
I hope those who have been victims of such cases can step forward to share their experiences, to increase awareness of the rest, who might be potential victims of identity thieves. To be able to share one’s experiences with others takes courage, but most importantly, others can be saved from such atrocious acts of identity thieves. Sharing their experiences may also help them get over the horrible incident themselves.
Those who have not been victims of this type of crimes should be still alert at all times. Sometimes, by just letting your guard down for even a few minutes may change your life instantly.