Fake identity, obtained loans and credit. Disappeared
Discussion
Told to me by someone who has to remain anonymous. Some of the details are hazy, A guy comes across a house empty, but not being left to deteriorate or fall to pieces. Uses said house to establish an existance thus a (false) i.d. Spends quite few years (about 10) obtaining credit cards (lots) and bank loans. Religiously pays them all of with no hicups. Builds up good credit score. Then, after the 10 or so years is up, starts to rack up huge credit amounts on the CC, and a few big loans. And then, he disappears. Obviously, as he never existed. So the CC companies, and the banks are trying to find him, but don't stand a cat in hell chance. He's the invisible man. And the reason he could do it. Because all these money companies, the CC companies and the banks, relied on computers to enable the accounts to be created and managed. No one ever saw this invisible person face to face. Must be a lesson there I guess.
Hmm, perhaps this anonymous chap had watched The Shawshank Redemption at some point. There have always been holes in systems, long before computers came along.
Perhaps banks and credit card companies should get every customer to present themselves at a local branch, with ID, birth certificate and photo of their grandparents getting married before dealing with them?
But the cost of this (and inevitable unpopularity by customers) would probably far outweigh the infrequent, nay rare occurrences of people spending 10 years to build up a fake ID before sodding off with some money.
Ian
Perhaps banks and credit card companies should get every customer to present themselves at a local branch, with ID, birth certificate and photo of their grandparents getting married before dealing with them?
But the cost of this (and inevitable unpopularity by customers) would probably far outweigh the infrequent, nay rare occurrences of people spending 10 years to build up a fake ID before sodding off with some money.
Ian
robinessex said:
Some of the details are hazy, A guy comes across a house empty, but not being left to deteriorate or fall to pieces.
Riiiight.robinessex said:
Uses said house to establish an existance thus a (false) i.d.
And how does he start off with this? How does he successfully apply for the first piece of identity "proof"? Does he go to Somerset House and trawl through the records for the birth certificate of a child who died shortly after birth, by any chance?TooMany2cvs said:
robinessex said:
Some of the details are hazy, A guy comes across a house empty, but not being left to deteriorate or fall to pieces.
Riiiight.robinessex said:
Uses said house to establish an existance thus a (false) i.d.
And how does he start off with this? How does he successfully apply for the first piece of identity "proof"? Does he go to Somerset House and trawl through the records for the birth certificate of a child who died shortly after birth, by any chance?Edited by robinessex on Thursday 9th October 10:58
robinessex said:
Told to me by someone who has to remain anonymous. Some of the details are hazy, A guy comes across a house empty, but not being left to deteriorate or fall to pieces. Uses said house to establish an existance thus a (false) i.d. Spends quite few years (about 10) obtaining credit cards (lots) and bank loans. Religiously pays them all of with no hicups. Builds up good credit score. Then, after the 10 or so years is up, starts to rack up huge credit amounts on the CC, and a few big loans. And then, he disappears. Obviously, as he never existed. So the CC companies, and the banks are trying to find him, but don't stand a cat in hell chance. He's the invisible man. And the reason he could do it. Because all these money companies, the CC companies and the banks, relied on computers to enable the accounts to be created and managed. No one ever saw this invisible person face to face. Must be a lesson there I guess.
Amateur!My last flat: upstairs neighbour had a 'granny flat' that he used to rent out. One of the tennants was a stripper from one of the clubs in Edinburgh (a fecking nightmare, but that's another story). She, using her stage name as a first name and the name-plaque on the granny flat door as her surname registered with utilities and council tax under the new identity. Stayed 6 months, didn't pay a penny in utilities, council tax etc and then disappeared after the flat was wrecked in a party with loads of staff, doormen and punters from the club. Owner seriously out of pocket and endless attempts by credit agencies to track her through the property - I of course obliged with as much info as possible as she made our life hell for 6 months!
I'm sure she does this everywhere she goes as it's a fairly transient industry!
This story just needs a car chase, a big shoot out in a western street, some aliens spacecaft and the original owner to be living with an amazonian tribe.
If it IS true, then its just another case of identity theft. The guy/girl has not done a Jason Bourne.
And ten years is a very long time to dedicate to a con - it would be easier to sell the house and use the cash for transferable purchases offshore.
If it IS true, then its just another case of identity theft. The guy/girl has not done a Jason Bourne.
And ten years is a very long time to dedicate to a con - it would be easier to sell the house and use the cash for transferable purchases offshore.
Sorry to the guys that don't believe it. Not really bothered about that. I understand that the house was used to establish a residence, and some of the documents were used, but someone elses i.d. wasn't used. As I said, the intimate details are scarce, and for obvious reasons. The less that is known about how it was done, the better. Why it was 10yrs, it's believed the guy who did it was in the UK on a 10yr job contract, so wasn't in a hurry. Oh the sum involved is north of £500,000 !!! Well, that's what it amounts to at the moment.
SlackBladder said:
So this guy comes to the UK on a 10 year contract, happens to find an empty house and moves in? House wasn't in a state of disrepair as you say, WTF have I been paying a mortgage for?
Wish people would read the postings CAREFULLY. I never said he moved into the house, just used it somehow. We had a row of houses near us with some empty for 15yrs whilst the owner waited for all to be vacated so he could re-develop.Forums | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff