The risks involved in identity theft go way beyond things like having your credit card used to make purchases that you didn’t make. In fact, this is one of the least of your worries, and not a compelling reason to get identity theft protection. The fact of the matter is that the credit card companies usually don’t hold you liable when your identity is stolen for more than about $50 or so in charges. While you don’t want to be out $50, there are worse things.
There are many worse things, in fact. Just ask 31 year-old Daniel Montoya of Corpus Christi, Texas. Montoya was stopped recently for a traffic violation. Imagine his surprise when the officer arrested Montoya on an outstanding warrant from Missouri.
Now, Montoya has never been outside of the state of Texas. However, Montoya had previously been the victim of identity theft. He knew this because when he filed his taxes last year, he had to go to the IRS and file a police report because someone was using his name.
It started about 12 years ago. Someone stole Montoya’s records from a U-Haul storage facility. Since then, he’s been struggling hard to get his name cleared. It is expected that one or more illegal immigrants have been using Montoya’s name in a number of states, including Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri and Arkansas.
This time around, he spent six days in the Nueces County Jail. Montoya was released once police were able to verify that this wasn’t the person they were looking for, and showing that his fingerprints and picture didn’t match the wanted criminal.
Montoya’s employer has assured him that he will be able to keep his job, even after missing a number of days of work. Montoya intends to request a new social security number in order to begin to reclaim his own identity and get out from under the many hazards of identity theft.
Photo via JOPHIELsmiles
