Identity theft

I don't know, but I'm going to try to find out. This just came up on Friday. We're pretty obviously different people—different middle names, different DOBs, different address histories. But like @John B. Foster, I have had same-name nightmares for years. I'm on every possible no-fly list. I travel a ton and for years couldn't check in online for flights. A few years back, I got strip searched four consecutive times at the US border when a felon with my name and the same birthday (different year) escaped from a Texas prison.

I've said for a long time: Name your kid Huffledinkus Xavirianitisim and then just call him "Dave" or whatever you want to call him.

 

Sorry to hear that. I’m thankful I’ve never had any issues with my passport, however, I got pulled over about four times because of it. Now the police have a little note in their system when they look up my license plate. I actually asked the cops what I can do about it - and, this is an honest story, they told me to officially change my name. I’m not fucking changing my name. I’m not afraid to admit this, I’ve been in tears a few times dealing with this. It’s a massive nightmare.

 

Back in the high demand days of Jordan's Bulls, I got through Ticketmaster on the day tix went on sale one season and bought for 3 decent games, got the confirmation number and all was good.

A week or so later, got a call from the CC company, asking if I was in downtown Chicago, buying $2,000 worth of baby clothes and furniture. They said there was a young lady trying do to that right now with my CC.

I said no and the police arrested her. Had a feeling and called Ticketmaster. The confirmation number for the Bulls tix was a phony. Apparently the operator faked the order and confirmation, wrote down the CC info and tried to go shopping.

I grabbed the Bulls media guide at work and sent a letter detailing what went on to the Bulls liason with Ticketmaster. He called me and replaced all the tickets we thought we ordered with comparable seats the team holds back in reserve.

Very cool ending.

 

Democrat, Republican, Socialist, Communist ... I would wholeheartedly support a political candidate who proposes making identity theft a death penalty offense. The pain, frustration and misery it inflicts on its victims, and the utter lack of remorse most of its perpetrators have, is sickening and an affront to all that's still good and decent in the world.

 

This is why I named my kids creatively to spare them the trouble common names could cause. Actually used the first items I saw in the recovery room post-delivery as inspiration: Lemonjello and Orangejello.

 

I guess what I'm going to do is just let the bank and FTC investigations run their course and go wherever they take them. If the banks or anyone else want to press charges, so be it.

I feel bad, but I have to protect myself. It wasn't too long ago that my credit was really bad. I've worked hard to get it to a good level. I've avoided using credit cards unless absolutely necessary and paid them off as quickly as possible. I've been obsessive about paying everything on time.

They say that 1/3 of all identity theft is committed by a relative.

 

You should at least let him know that you know:
'I know it was you, Fredo. You broke my heart.'

Probably stop short of having him killed while he's fishing and praying, though.

 

Reminds me of the old joke that I'm sure will get me branded as a horrible racist in 2018, but fuck it:
How do Chinese families name their kids?
They throw a box of silverware down the stairs and spell out the sounds.

 

I got ripped off by a family member a while back as well; even put my law license in jeopardy momentarily. Sucks, never told the authorities but confronted the perp and told him in no uncertain terms he was dead to me for doing so. Never let him even get a sniff of any information ever again.

Protect yourself. Glad you caught it too.

 

Several years ago somebody file a phony income tax return with my information, and when we submitted ours, it got flagged. Took nearly five months to get my return, partly because it was the year they were furloughing government employees. Now, each year the IRS sends me a PIN.
Went to Chicago a few years back. Only used my credit card twice - to pay my hotel bill and one meal. A month later was headed out on vacation and tried to use it for gas and it was denied. Called the credit card company and they had flagged it because somebody had tried to use it in chicago. They overnighted me a new one. Neither of those experiences were any fun at all.