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Abstract

uding birth date.I then did a credit check on myself to discover that I had definitely opened these 2 online accounts, and I had also applied to a bank for a credit card.I spent the best part of an afternoon on the phone to these 3, explaining that I had not opened these accounts and it was definitely nothing to do with me.It was then explained to me by a bored-sounding member of staff at the bank, that Identity Theft happens constantly, and systems were in place to help those of us who have had our identities stolen, to get the accounts closed down, and to remove everything from credit records. In fact, the application for the card had been turned down by the bank as some of the details on the application were found to be incorrect.And, this is exactly what happened.I’m not usually prone to emotional outbursts, but I explained to my daughter that I felt kind of violated, dirty, that someone had been rummaging around in my personal stuff.And she explained that it is apparently quite normal to have your identity stolen, part of modern life in fact and it is not personal and I shouldn’t take it as such.The following week I received a microwave, a toaster and a kettle.A couple of weeks later, I received letters from all 3

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companies expressing their regret that this had happened to me, and assuring me that the accounts had now been closed and all details removed from my credit record.And then, a couple of weeks further on, I received an email asking me to return the 2 tee shirts.I read the email and forgot about it.A week later, another similar email arrived.Shortly after this, I received an invoice for 2 tee shirts and a threat that if I didn’t pay, a court summons would be issued against me.I wrapped the tee shirts and drove to the Post Office, struggled to park but finally found somewhere, and queued for 30 minutes to post 2 tee shirts that I didn’t order. This seemed like adding insult to injury.I have no idea how the scammers hope to benefit from this and I don’t really care, but it really does seem as if this is just something that is part of life now, like the Nigerian Prince who wants your bank details so he can send you 5 million £’s, or the guys ringing you offering a share that is going to treble in price, or the DHL email asking you to click here to find details of your upcoming delivery.However, there is some good news — does anyone want an air fryer, a microwave, a toaster and a kettle.All going cheap.</article></body>

Identity Theft

Two Tee Shirts Arrived

And The Nightmare Began

One day two tee shirts arrived in the mail addressed to me.

The name was correct, the address was correct; I hadn’t ordered them but they were the right size and I opened the box and tried one on. Great. All good.

I checked the box and they had been sent by one of the major online retailers; I made a mental note to ask my daughter if she’d bought me a couple of tee shirts, chucked them in the drawer and forgot about it.

Two weeks later, an air fryer arrived. Correct name and address.

I rang the company, again a major online retailer, and informed them that they had sent me an item I hadn’t ordered. I was then surprised to learn that I had ordered the item through the account I had recently set up.

I checked the details of the account with them and discovered all the details were correct, including birth date.

I then did a credit check on myself to discover that I had definitely opened these 2 online accounts, and I had also applied to a bank for a credit card.

I spent the best part of an afternoon on the phone to these 3, explaining that I had not opened these accounts and it was definitely nothing to do with me.

It was then explained to me by a bored-sounding member of staff at the bank, that Identity Theft happens constantly, and systems were in place to help those of us who have had our identities stolen, to get the accounts closed down, and to remove everything from credit records. In fact, the application for the card had been turned down by the bank as some of the details on the application were found to be incorrect.

And, this is exactly what happened.

I’m not usually prone to emotional outbursts, but I explained to my daughter that I felt kind of violated, dirty, that someone had been rummaging around in my personal stuff.

And she explained that it is apparently quite normal to have your identity stolen, part of modern life in fact and it is not personal and I shouldn’t take it as such.

The following week I received a microwave, a toaster and a kettle.

A couple of weeks later, I received letters from all 3 companies expressing their regret that this had happened to me, and assuring me that the accounts had now been closed and all details removed from my credit record.

And then, a couple of weeks further on, I received an email asking me to return the 2 tee shirts.

I read the email and forgot about it.

A week later, another similar email arrived.

Shortly after this, I received an invoice for 2 tee shirts and a threat that if I didn’t pay, a court summons would be issued against me.

I wrapped the tee shirts and drove to the Post Office, struggled to park but finally found somewhere, and queued for 30 minutes to post 2 tee shirts that I didn’t order. This seemed like adding insult to injury.

I have no idea how the scammers hope to benefit from this and I don’t really care, but it really does seem as if this is just something that is part of life now, like the Nigerian Prince who wants your bank details so he can send you 5 million £’s, or the guys ringing you offering a share that is going to treble in price, or the DHL email asking you to click here to find details of your upcoming delivery.

However, there is some good news — does anyone want an air fryer, a microwave, a toaster and a kettle.

All going cheap.