Identity theft

[mrsbornkuntry]

I am so angry for my sister right now. She divorced her ex in 2004 and moved out of state. Around 2007 she received a gas collections bill from the state she used to live in for an address she never lived at. It seems her ex used her ss# to get gas for his home. I told her then to report it, it was identity theft and she filed a police report.

Well, this past year she moved back to that state, that city, and tried to get power, cable and gas for her home. They wouldn't give it to her until she paid the past due balances that were again for addresses she didn't live at, she didn't even live in the state at that time. She even had the police dept. fax them a copy of the police report. They still are making her pay the previous bills

Now, as if that wasn't enough: We filed her federal tax return in Jan. using turbotax, but she wanted to wait to do her state (I don't remember why). So today, yes last minute, she called me and asked me to do it. (I do her taxes online because she doesn't have a computer). I logged on and her information is gone! All of it, even the federal. When I checked the personal information it still had that, but the first red flag was that her name wasn't capitalized and I would have, but the biggest one was that her phone number was changed to a phone number that she just got a couple days ago. Her ex has this number because he has their son sometimes.

She's already calling turbotax and then the IRS if it turns out someone did file it (she's due a small return from the state). But what else can she do to keep him from using her ss#? She has flags on the three credit bureaus, is there anything else? She asked if she could change her social, but they said that identity theft isn't one of the reasons for doing that. This isn't anything surprising from her ex, he is always out for a quick buck and has no qualms about fraud, he thinks he's "lucky" when he beats the system, it was like this when they were married, too.

If it turns out he did file her taxes and put his address on it will the IRS go after him? Even if it's a small amount? It is fraud, right? I'm so tired of him doing this to her, every time she gets ahead he messes things up for her

 

[angierae]

How did her ex get access to her TurboTax account?

 

[jmartinez1895]

To answer you last quest, yes it is fraud and the IRS will help with that issue. Your sister needs to contact the police ( yes again) then she needs to contact the credit reporting agencies. They will be able to tell her what steps to take and they will be able to help her find out if he has opened any credit cards or loans in her name.

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

I think she used the same password for turbotax that she used for facebook and I don't know if she gave him her facebook password or if her ds did because she lets her ds play games on her account, but he had it and for awhile he had changed her picture to his which is how we found out.

 

[chris31997]

If he is doing this, she needs to push this and use him as an example for her son. Her son is going to see that dad is away with this and may try it also. Above that, this is fraud and unfortunatly, it may be such a small amount that the law is not overly worried about, but if she is pushy enough than something can get done.

Sorry she is going through this.

 

[KS_Disney_Dad]

NOT a lawyer, but if this was him and he obtains her refund by electronic direct deposit, he possibly could have committed wire fraud. If he gets a paper check, it would be in her name. Once he cashed it, he possibly could have committed forgery. Both have serious jail sentences - up to 30 years and up to 10 years.

You might want to contact a lawyer in her area that specializes in ID theft / fraud. Take care of it now, or it will get worse later (i.e. using the kids information for fraud)

Best of luck.

 

[bettymae1121]

NOT a lawyer, but if this was him and he obtains her refund by electronic direct deposit, he possibly could have committed wire fraud. If he gets a paper check, it would be in her name. Once he cashed it, he possibly could have committed forgery. Both have serious jail sentences - up to 30 years and up to 10 years.

You might want to contact a lawyer in her area that specializes in ID theft / fraud. Take care of it now, or it will get worse later (i.e. using the kids information for fraud)Best of luck.

To that end she needs to pull her son's credit reports and see if ex has opened anything using the son's SSN. She should also put a fraud alert on him.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Let's put a little of the anger on her...


1. She gives out her password to her DS, possibly her DH etc.??? REALLY? WHY?

2. She has let him get away with this time and again so why should she think he's changed?

Some of this her responsiblity. She needs to learn to protect herself too!

And this is why I have NEVER used the TurboTax or other online services. They are NOT as secure as your personal computer!

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

She just spent an hour and a half on the phone with turbotax who couldn't tell her what happened to her info. except her state wasn't e-filed. So I wonder if he didn't print it and mail it like she was going to to save the $39.95 prep. fee.

I will talk to her about putting a fraud alert on her boys' accounts, I imagine he already has used them.

Yes, it is her own fault, she is irresponsible giving out information. She is naive and thinks she can trust people "this time" and she is always getting herself into trouble with it.