The following paragraph from the FTC’s pamphlet “When Bad Things Happen to Your Good Name” describes the headaches for identity theft victims trying to restore their credit.
Unlike victims of other crimes, who generally are treated with respect and sympathy, identity theft victims often find themselves having to prove that they’re victims, too—not deadbeats trying to get out of paying bad debts. So how do you go about proving something you didn’t do? Getting the right documents and getting them to the right people is key.
Throughout this course, you have learned the importance of fraud examiners keeping accurate, detailed records. In this respect, identity theft victims become detectives who need evidence to prove somebody beside themselves is responsible for the accounts, debts, and misdeeds committed in their name. Unfortunately, victims often don’t have documents to prove their innocence.
To help victims begin the process of proving innocence, the FTC and others developed an ID theft affidavit. An affidavit is a document with some legal status when signed in the presence of a witness or notary.
Look up the affidavit at www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/ pubs/credit/affidavit.pdf. Fill out the affidavit using the example of Jacob at the beginning of this chapter.
Be as detailed as possible [be creative when asked for pertinent information that wasn’t provided as part of the example (dates, etc.)]. Turn in the completed affidavit, along with your answers to these questions:
1. T/F All companies are required to accept the affidavit as a valid legal document?
2. T/F This affidavit is designed for both existing accounts fraudulently used and new accounts fraudulently opened.
3. To what organizations might a victim send a completed affidavit?
4. To what organizations should victims not send an affidavit?