Identity Theft: It's Personal

There are a lot of things in the financial world I don’t understand. Some are due to my ignorance, such as retirement plans or hedge funds. Others simply don’t make sense.


One such example was having my tax return rejected from the IRS year after year after year. It was only recently that I learned this was due to the fact that someone had already filed a tax return using my social security number.


I made countless calls to the IRS, and although they were eventually able to identify the person who had been using my social security number fraudulently, they refuse to tell me who that person was.


Without that information, I was left spinning in a world of chaos. Without that information, I was unable to file a police report for identity theft or recover any damages. It took the IRS 9 months to send my refund, something that most people receive in less than 2 weeks.


So, after about a decade of this situation, and going through the motions year after year, to provide alternative forms of Income verification, I think I am well within my rights to be a little agitated.


This year I planned to file for an extension since it was my understanding that several other related issues are being investigation so I could finally put an end to this madness.


Now I don't have much money, in fact I don't have any, but I find white collar crime despicable and repulsive.


When taken into account the substantial cost to society, not to mention the havoc it wreaked on my life, I respectfully think that maybe you should not assume that someone is making false claims just because you don't think it sounds "right."


Lots of things don't "sound right" however that doesn't mean they aren't true. Gotta go now, I have a date with eBay to auction my social security card to the highest bidder. Clearly, it is not worth anything to me so long as the authorities fail to do their part in ENFORCING the laws associated with Identity theft. 

Sure, it is easy to blame the victim as being irresponsible or somehow negligent in these situations, however I will refer you to some fascinating research that has been done on the emotional consequences of Identity theft. The cost is far more than just an issue of financial discomfort; it is something that can ultimately leave you questioning your own identity.


It should be noted that Identity theft is a criminal matter, so whatever costs associated with such events, the victim is not reimbursed for any of the costs associated with having their life disrupted by something that is ultimately completely beyond their control.


It happens more often than you think, and it is a complicated, intricate, and time intensive to resolve such crimes... To be continued...


edd, edm.
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile 

ORIGINAL POST 2009-08-09 12:45