Identity, Sold Forever
A credit card arrived in the mail that Ashley never applied for—the first sign that someone had opened accounts, lines of credit, even a bank account, all in her name. What followed was over a decade of phone calls, transfers, and reports that went nowhere: the Royal Canadian Mounted Police logged it only as an “information file,” and nearly every institution she contacted called it a victimless crime. More than ten years later, she still fields yearly reminders that the fraud, which started with a data breach in the hospital where she worked as a nurse, was never resolved.
“I first discovered my identity theft in December of 2014. I had received a credit card in the mail that I did not apply for. The only reason I paid much attention to it was because I had heard other people at my work experience something similar. I immediately called the credit card company. They advised me to contact both credit bureaus of Canada. At this time, I just desperately wanted to clear everything and felt that it would be clear as soon as I could just connect with the right people.
After I called the credit bureaus, I found multiple accounts open in my name including credit cards, phones, a line of credit and a bank account. I felt the person at the bureau spoke so fast and it was hard to understand what to do next. I wrote down everything I could about where the fraudulent accounts were created. She told me I had to reach out to each one and report it. This was easier said than done. I’d have to explain my situation to each person at each company who would then transfer me to another person, and I would have to start over. The fraudulent accounts used my maiden name so I would have to explain that as well.
“I found multiple accounts open in my name including credit cards, phones, a line of credit and a bank account.”
One particularly tricky issue was the companies who held these accounts wanted to know my account number or details about when and where the account was opened, which of course I didn't have because it wasn’t me.
Knowing that several colleagues had also had the same issue, I reported it to my place of work. At first, it seemed like they were keenly interested but soon it became apparent that they were more interested in deferring and deflecting blame than investigating or understanding how this happened.
I reported it to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police—Canada’s federal national police force—who informed me this wasn't going to be investigated but was just an information file. I reported it to the privacy commission and the anti-fraud department of Canada. All either failed to respond or told me there was nothing they could do.
A moment from this experience that has stayed with me was the overall complacency of everyone I tried to alert. The attitude that this is a victimless crime because they didn't steal my actual money. The feeling that you’re shouting from the rooftops and no one cares until it happens to them.
“Everyone I tried to alert had the attitude that this is a victimless crime because they didn’t steal my actual money.”
Other people who have been scammed come to me when they find out they are victims and want to know what they should do. They are mad, as they should be, and want justice. After over a decade of trying to get something done, no one has done anything. I think people are surprised to know that even if you follow all the right steps, justice most likely will never happen.
After all this time, I still have issues that pop up at least yearly. They have my personal information and can use it and sell it infinitely so it’s likely this could go on forever.
One thing I’d want others to know is that they have to be their own advocate. You have to follow up. People at these large companies would tell me they are closing the account or reporting it and so on, but a month later I would get a notice of collections and the account wasn't closed. It often takes multiple attempts to close one account or prove that it is fraud. Be prepared that this could take years.”
“They have my personal information and can use it and sell it infinitely so it's likely this could go on forever.”
Ashley, Canada
