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Computer Law/Soon to be ex and her father steal my credit reports monthly

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Expert: - 5/8/2008


Question
I am concluding a divorce settlement.  I pulled my credit reports to see if
anything unexpected appeared before I signed any financial documents.  My
Trans Union report showed the ConsumerInfo.com was checking my credit
monthly and it listed that they had written permission.  I called them to ask
who they were sending my credit report to and they told me my (soon to be
ex) wife's email address.  they also told me that the service was paid for by
her father.  When I told the company that I didn't authorize this they informed
me that what my ex-wife and father-in-law did was considered fraud and
was a federal crime.  They advised me to file a police report.  I am really
angry about this but is it really a crime?  If so, what kind of recourse can I
take?  What kind of trouble could they be facing?

Answer
Hey Daniel,

What they did is considered a crime in many states and may even meet the Federal definition for Identity theft.

They had to use your personal information in order to be able to get into and request those records, and that is where they committed the crime. It is usually a Felony in most states.

You should report this to your local police and report it as Identity Theft. They are looking at anywhere from probation to 5 years in prison and a fine of several thousand dollars.

You also could sue them in civil court, and you would have a very good case, since you have the evidence in black and white.

If I was you I would also make sure your divorce lawyer knows they were doing this, you now have a huge bargaining chip and should really come out good in the divorce settlement.


Be Safe!





PS> Please take a second to rate this answer, Thanks.

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Chris Wagoner

Expertise

I can answer questions concerning Computer Crime Investigations and Internet investigations including Computer Crime Laws both at the State level and Federal level. I can answer questions on almost any crime in which a computer is used. In addition I can answer questions concerning copywrite infringement (peer to peer, and copying). I served as a police Commander and conducted and still conduct Computer Crime Investigations at the Local, State and Federal level. I have investigated all most any kind of crime with which or which involved a computer and the internet, from murders, kidnappings, extortion, drug dealing and more. I can answer questions concerning Computer Forensics (the art of recovering information from a suspects computer), Computer Crime Investigations and Internet Investigations. I am a Federally Court Recognized Expert in Computer Crime and Computer Forensics. I have worked in both Facebook and MySPace, also in Peer to Peer investigations. In addition I can answer questions concerning child predators and how to make your children safer on-line. I teach Computer Forensics, Internet Investigations, Peer to Peer Investigations and other computer crime related subjects for several colleges and the Institute of Police Technology and Management. My hobby webpage - Military Videos - http://www.youtube.com/user/3rdID8487

Experience

I conduct computer crime investigations in conjunction with the F.B.I., Alachua County Sheriff’s Office, Gainesville Police Department, and University of Florida Police Department, Levi County Sheriff’s Office, Starke Police Department and other agencies in the North Florida Court District. I provide the forensic data recovery services for those agencies as well as internet tracing and information gathering. I am a Federal Court Certified Expert in Computer Crime Investigations and Forensics. I teach Computer Forensics for the University of North Florida, Institute of Police Technology and Management. I also teach Computer Crime courses for Tallahassee Community College, Pat Thomas Law Enforcement Training Center. Associate Instructor; teach Computer Crime courses thorough out the world for IPTM. Presently Teach Cyber Crime Investigations, Computer Crime Investigations and Computer Forensic Data Recovery Course.

Education/Credentials
2 Degrees in Criminal Justice, now teach college level Data Forensics classes

Awards and Honors
Awarded the FBI Directors Award for assisting the FBI in a National Computer Crime Investigation. Awarded Dec 2002

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