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hypothetical detective. (stalker thread)
Sonar
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
Lets say someone has your identity, SS#, birth date, the shebang.
They have this information legally.
They are nuts, but intelligent.
They have begun a campaign of harassment, phone calls and such. However, they are careful to only say things that are offensive to you (special meanings or references) that don't seem harmful to anyone else. No open threats of violence or whatever. Several lawyers have told you that legally there isn't anything they can do.
Now, the fun stuff.
This person has started opening up P.O. Boxes and charging stuff to your accounts. They are careful to not be identified by those P.O. Boxes. (Don't ask me how you do that, I wouldn't know.)
Now the question.
How do you prove that this person is opening up P.O. Boxes and charging items to your accounts? How do you stop the harassment?
Assume that :
You have moved several times already, and have changed accounts.
Also assume that once the P.O. Box is opened any items ordered to it are not picked up, a detective wouldn't be able to stake one out and catch the thief.
Current theory:
Close all but essential accounts, hard lock all accounts - there should be a way to not allow a purchase to go through unless authorized by phone.
Check credit report daily, immediately contact and close any new accounts opened under your name and request information on the person who opened the account, such as phone number used to call to open the account.
Consider hiring a detective to follow the person and gather evidence of opening a P.O. Box, then waiting for something to be ordered there under your name.
I'm interested in your thoughts on the matter.
They have this information legally.
They are nuts, but intelligent.
They have begun a campaign of harassment, phone calls and such. However, they are careful to only say things that are offensive to you (special meanings or references) that don't seem harmful to anyone else. No open threats of violence or whatever. Several lawyers have told you that legally there isn't anything they can do.
Now, the fun stuff.
This person has started opening up P.O. Boxes and charging stuff to your accounts. They are careful to not be identified by those P.O. Boxes. (Don't ask me how you do that, I wouldn't know.)
Now the question.
How do you prove that this person is opening up P.O. Boxes and charging items to your accounts? How do you stop the harassment?
Assume that :
You have moved several times already, and have changed accounts.
Also assume that once the P.O. Box is opened any items ordered to it are not picked up, a detective wouldn't be able to stake one out and catch the thief.
Current theory:
Close all but essential accounts, hard lock all accounts - there should be a way to not allow a purchase to go through unless authorized by phone.
Check credit report daily, immediately contact and close any new accounts opened under your name and request information on the person who opened the account, such as phone number used to call to open the account.
Consider hiring a detective to follow the person and gather evidence of opening a P.O. Box, then waiting for something to be ordered there under your name.
I'm interested in your thoughts on the matter.
I'm building a real pirate ship. Really. Wanna help? Click here!
caffron said: "and cat pee is not a laughing matter"
caffron said: "and cat pee is not a laughing matter"
Sonar on
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From what I've heard, it's a relatively simple process, that's practically free.
Also, you can get a new social security number. Contact the Social Security Administration. After you've got the new number, close and cancel all accounts, and open up new ones with the new number. Don't let the person get ahold of your new number.
Also, call their employer to complain, if they got it through their place of work. Employers don't require proof beyond a reasonable doubt in order to fire someone.
If you tell somebody not to call you, yet they continue to call, in some states that's harassment and you can get a restraining order - regardless of the content of the calls.
Close all current credit accounts.
Call the three major credit agencies (Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion) and tell them to put a fraud alert on your account. This will prevent any new credit accounts from being opened without calling a specific number that you verify.
Then call the Social Security Administration and begin the process of obtaining a new Social Security Number. Chances are your request will be denied - but begin the process anyway in case the above measures fail somehow.
Changing your name won't do shit.
the "no true scotch man" fallacy.
The last time I looked up sex change stuff, I heard it costs about 250USD, and the main cost of that is because you have to make an announcement in the newspaper, kind of like a marriage.
I may or may not have made that up. I don't think I did, though.
You can simply stop using your old name altogether. Use the new one, it becomes your legal name.
I didn't think it was possible to change your SS that easily. I'll defiantly pass that on.
caffron said: "and cat pee is not a laughing matter"