They get little to no help from the authorities who issued the identifying information to them in the first place.
Law enforcement doesn't investigate many such crimes. There's just too much identity fraud occurring for them to handle all such cases, although the financial fraud departments of many police departments are being expanded.
Many police and sheriff's departments refuse to issue a police report to the victims. They claim that the banks and credit card companies are the real victims because they suffer the financial losses. Many victims find they need the police report to prove their innocence to the credit card companies and the check guarantee services.
Many victims report they do not get effective help from the credit grantors, banks, and the CRAs. They describe difficulty in reaching the credit reporting agencies, and tell how they are treated disbelievingly by some creditors. Victims also report that flagging their credit report for fraud doesn't always stop the imposter from obtaining more credit.
Victims must also deal with abusive collection agencies. They are threatened with law suits, garnished wages, and having their homes taken away from them.
Another common experience of victims is that they must spend a great deal of time cleaning up the mess. I've talked to many who are taking the day or the week off work so they can make the necessary phone calls, write the letters, and get affidavits notarized. This costs them money as well. Many victims are saddled with this situation for years.
In a recent survey conducted by CALPIRG, the average amount of time spent by victims to regain their financial health was 175 hours. And those cases had dragged on for an average of two years, with many cases taking more than four years to be resolved.
Victims are often scarred emotionally. They feel violated and helpless -- and very angry. I've heard people use the word "rape" to describe how they feel. I've talked to many who are crying or close to it because they cannot stop what is happening to them, and no one else will either.
It's little wonder that victims feel violated, helpless and angry. They are unable to rent an apartment, get a job, qualify for a mortgage, buy a car, all because someone else's bad credit history is recorded on their credit report.
Essentially the entire burden of this crime is placed on the shoulders of the victims.
