|
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 She ordered money withdrawn from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
|
