Identity Theft - Case Study 2

Lara McDonald, 40, an accounts administrator from Edinburgh.
Laura McDonald suffered four months of stress and heartache after a fraudster stole her ID.

"The first I knew of what was going on was when a letter from a debt collector landed on my doormat."

The debt collector was chasing up a recent £235 debt from a mail order company.

But the debt related to an address that Laura had left more than four years ago.

Laura had fallen victim to a not too sophisticated but still highly-effective fraud.

"The housing association had left my nameplate up outside my old address. The fraudster had simply seen my name and decided to obtain goods using it."

Laura soon discovered that the mail order debt wasn't the only cloud on the horizon.

I was recently refused credit at a High Street retailer, I am sure the fraudulent mail order and book club debts are to blame Laura McDonald

"My name was used to obtain books from a book club and I am currently dealing with that debt."

In order to prove that she wasn't the person responsible, Laura has had to make dozens of phone calls and send a copy of her birth certificate and utility bills to debt collectors and credit reference agencies.

Unfortunately, Laura has found that her credit rating has been hit by the fraud.

" I was recently refused credit at a High Street retailer, I am sure the fraudulent mail order and book club debts are to blame.

"I am currently trying to get the credit reference agency to correct my file."

Laura reported the fraud to the police and was surprised at their response.

"They told me that they would not investigate because I am not the victim of the crime, it is up to the mail order firm and book club to complain.

"What the law does not realise is that I am a victim. I have spent at least a week sorting this mess out and the whole experience has been very stressful indeed."