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March 28, 2002 6:34 p.m. EST Thief Steals Woman's Identity, Runs Up Credit NewsNet5 (Cleveland) AKRON, Ohio -- Imagine someone taking confidential information about you and then assuming your identity. That's what an Akron woman said someone has done with her Social Security number. | |
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NewsChannel5's Jonathan Costen reported on the case of identity theft and how others can protect themselves. Lisa Kelly (pictured, right) and her family are trying to piece their lives together, because right now, her financial credit is like a puzzle. But, it wasn't always like that. "Oh yeah, I had perfect credit," she said. "Everything on there (was) paid, and (I've) never been late. Everything was good until this happened." |  |
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Someone with a similar last name took Kelly's Social Security number.
Kelly found out, because earlier this month, a loan company called her and warned her that someone with a different name used her Social Security number to apply for money. "So we would've never found out about this unless this man would have called, because I had no idea," she said. "I was getting no bills here, no phone calls." So Kelly and her husband pulled her credit report and got a big surprise. The report said that Kelly worked at Summa Care. But Kelly has never worked at Summa, and she currently works at home. "We're very confident this is an isolated incident," said Judith Macro, the vice president of Summa Care. "It has never happened before. Employees have to have security access in order to get this kind of information." The person who assumed Kelly's identity was discovered and fired, and that's not all. "She tried to apply for loans (at) American General, City Financial, Alltel, AT & T Wireless, First Consumer's, National Bank -- so she's been busy," Kelly said. The thief also has two addresses listed on Kelly's credit report. NewsChannel5 went to both of those homes, but no one was there. In the meantime, the Kellys have been busy calling credit bureaus and banks, because they're worried. "This little incident can ruin what we have planned for the future," said Matt Kelly, Lisa's husband. Officials at Summa Care said that Social Security numbers are universal identifiers for health plans, banking institutions and department stores. Even though it would not have helped, the Kellys said that they are going to buy a paper shredder. Don't forget to shred your papers before you trash them. | |