Roommate steals identity . . . and life savings
By Bankrate.com

Identity theft can happen at home, at work or even at an ATM as these stories from Bankrate readers show.

I allowed a friend who was unemployed to stay with me while she looked for work in a city known for rent controls and difficulty in finding apartments -- big mistake. It left my life in a shambles both financially and emotionally.

After four months, I had five-figure debts charged to my credit cards and bank accounts. This person was apparently, a cocaine addict and an expert at identity theft.

My roommate's favorite trick was to buy things by phone from major department stores, charge it to my store charge account, get the package sent to our apartment, beat me home at night, collect the packages then take the items back to the store and get a refund for cash.

She had access to all of my financial statements including my IRA and other major savings. She ordered money withdrawn from my accounts and sent to our address -- then beat me home to get them in the mail. She faked my signature and laughed all the way to her drug dealer to feed her habit.

My life's savings went up her nose with no financial recourse. Years later, after countless legal judgments against my ex- roommate, I have yet to see a dime.

. . . . . .

And, your ATM may be wearing a mask these days, says Bankrate reporter Laura Bruce.

ATM skimming
If that ATM doesn't look quite right, don't put your card into it. Bad guys who would like to empty your bank account are attaching skimming devices to ATMs. These devices take all the account information that's on your card's magnetic stripe, along with the card number and your PIN. It happens most often at ATMs in malls and convenience stores, but some have been found on ATMs right outside banks.

-- Posted: Oct. 25, 2002