Man Lived Under Stolen Identity For More Than A Decade

Identity cloning generally encompasses all types of identity theft. In most cases, the thief is intentionally living and functioning as the victim. The thief’s motivation may be to hide from the law, evade child support, or skirt immigration. A man lived a quiet life with a steady job. But he wasn’t who he claimed to be. He was an identity thief. His ruse was so elaborate that his own girlfriend said she was unaware of it.
His victim lived hundreds of miles away and for over a decade, the victim was unaware that his identity had been stolen. When the victim applied for a passport for the first time, he learned that someone else already had a passport under his name, and had since 1996.
Prosecutors aren’t even sure of the perpetrator’s real name. The man claims he’s a German national who entered the country under his real name in 1983 via Mexico. He even got a birth certificate and a driver’s license.
In cases of identity theft, generally, the goal is to commit financial fraud. Kind of like a smash and grab. The thief comes in, wreaks havoc, makes a mess, destroys your credit, and then moves on to another victim. But with identity cloning, the person may actually pay the bills and live a decent life.
In some cases, though, that (continue reading...)