Lakefield Herald Special Report

Identity Theft. Credit Card Fraud. “It can’t happen to me.” Well, actually, it could and it did!

by Anita Locke

On Thursday, September 25 I listened to a message on my answering machine that chilled me to the bone.

“This is [name] of the security department at [credit card company]. We have received a possible fraudulent application in your name.”

I called the credit card company, and was given what information they were free to share with me. A Staples Business Depot credit card had been taken out in my name in Brampton.

A subsequent call yielded information that a laptop computer had been purchased on the card; store staff became suspicious when the perpetrator attempted to buy other items on the card.

There is video surveillance footage and description of the vehicle.

I was directed to call Equifax and TransUnion to see if other cards had been taken out in my name. There were two more: one for a President’s Choice Master Card, and one for a Canadian Tire card. I spoke with representatives of those companies. Both applications provided Oshawa addresses.

The cards were applied for between September 11 and September 24, 2008.

What was scary is that the perpetrators had so much of my personal information correct. I have tried to figure out how they could have got that information (because I do tend to be very careful in who is able to access it), but have been unsuccessful.

I spent hours on the phone over the next few days and weeks trying to clear things up. I spoke with officers from the Peterborough Lakefield Community Police, Peel Region (Brampton) and Durham Region (Oshawa). I attempted to file police reports.

I put fraud warnings on my Trans-Union and Equifax accounts. (For the next six years, if I want to apply for a credit card, I will have to jump through hoops. At least I will be safe and it means that no one else can apply for a credit card in my name.)

I filled out affidavits and provided identification documents to prove that I am who I say I am.

I have spent (a very conservative guesstimate) in excess of 40 hours trying to clear this mess up. That doesn’t include the countless hours lying awake at night, mulling things over in my mind and discussing the situation with friends.

With PhoneBusters alone I spent hours ‘on hold’. After my most recent (successful) attempt, it was 45 minutes before I was finally able to speak with a real person. They filed a report.

Because of the multi-jurisdictional nature of the crimes, I offered to travel to Brampton (Peel Region) to file a police report. “That’s not how we do things” I was told.

I found myself worrying about other people, such as seniors, who might find themselves in a similar situation. I have been overwhelmed, frustrated, confused, frightened, angered and felt other emotions as I’ve attempted to navigate my way through the myriad of agencies, people and companies I’ve had to deal with.

I did a bit of research on the internet. In 2006, in Ontario alone, the loss attributed to Identity Theft Complaints was $7,584,188.86 (3,353 victims). Nationally, the total was $16,283,776.91 (7,778 victims).

You should check your credit report at least once a year. Call Equifax (877) 323-2598 and TransUnion (800) 663-9980 for details.

As for my own case of identity theft and credit card fraud? It’s not likely to go any further. A shortage of police resources means that my file, like so many others, will sit on a shelf somewhere.

I know now that identity theft and credit card fraud happens, because I’ve experienced it firsthand.

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