Identity Theft and Bank Accounts

**Miller1987** · 06-19-2011, 04:58 PM

I apologize for posting in the social thread as I cannot find a topic which suits this issue.

In 2007, while in college, I was notified by police that an individual had stolen my identity and I think they said he had been using it to legally work in the US and had been doing so since I approximately 10 years old.

My parents and myself checked a free yearly government credit report deal which looked fine - although I can't say we were looking at the right thing or even knew what we were looking at - my credit score had been unaffected though.

I just recently moved across country and upon applying for a bank membership - I was told that I was denied because I had multiple opened checking accounts which closed due to negligence at a bank in Missouri.

After calling the bank, I was told that there were two individuals listed with my social security. Myself and then the name of the individual who had stolen my identity - who, by the way, is a 40+ yr. old Mexican gentleman where as I was a 20 yr. old caucasian man. (I have a student loan federal perkins loan which runs through the bank.)

I've been in contact numerous times with their identity theft department trying to get these removed from my record - which I was apparently successful in doing. They were supposed to send me a letter of resolution stating all of this information and the corrections two months ago and the letter never arrived. I called them multiple times saying I haven't received this yet and a week ago I told them I needed another letter sent. I was told that it had to be mailed versus emailed as it was on official letter head. I'm currently awaiting this.

I don't understand how they let this individual open accounts under my social security and, let alone, not even in my name. This caused me numerous problems during my move - as I was unable to acquire a bank here - I had to have my mother western union over a grand to secure my apartment which resulted in about $130 of fees. I've had to go to the social security administration and wait there for an hour two times to get a document which proved I was me to send to the bank to have it removed. I received a report from Chex Systems saying the following changes were made to my account...and it didn't show anything different from before or say what was done. I imagine I still have to contact the 3 main reporting agencies individually to get this fixed. +

Do I have any sort of case against the bank for not reviewing this applicant before issuing him accounts? Am I at least owed the damages that I incurred? How do I go about seeking restitution?

Thanks for your time.

**Mr. Knowitall** · 06-21-2011, 07:57 AM

How do you expect people to know that a person, presenting a valid SSN and valid ID, is not in fact the person named (and perhaps photographed) on the ID? What are you claiming that they did that was negligent?

**Miller1987** · 06-22-2011, 07:13 PM

Yeah - it seems like negligence. Sure he could give them a forged card with my number and his name (his name was on my social for the accounts he opened) but should a SSN not be checked towards the name, location/address (accounts opened in Missouri where as I lived in VA) etc associated with that number? E.g., a ChexSystem report shows all of that information. Their verification process should not be constricted to looking at a social card and id with matching names.