Family member has taken out loans in my name! What can I do?

melanzana

Sbm123 wrote: »

Just fyi no I have never lived at their address. The letter was sent to my address over 80 miles away.

Just strange that they got your current address. I am not denigrating you at all.

I am just puzzled as to how they tracked you down. And I know you mentioned the electoral roll, but that is hit and miss, but maybe they got lucky. The electoral roll is HUMUNGOUS.

sourcrates

melanzana wrote: »

If family member applied under your name with THEIR address and email, how did they track you down for this debt?

Just wondered.

Debt collectors will do a fishing exercise if there is doubt of the debtors identity.
All similar named individuals within a geographic area will be letter bombed, emailed, or texted, to try and get a hit.

They would only do that if the details they held, did not match up, which they wouldn't if the fraudster took out credit in someone else's name, at a different address.

How they passed initial credit checks by the original lender also leaves a Hugh question mark !!

Sbm123

Yes I also thought this, my name and surname are very uncommon so maybe this was how? Also as the poster above said the letter that I was sent was definitely a fishing exercise... I managed to work out what had happened by the email address and address they had on file.

sourcrates

Sbm123 wrote: »

Yes I also thought this, my name and surname are very uncommon so maybe this was how? Also as the poster above said the letter that I was sent was definitely a fishing exercise... I managed to work out what had happened by the email address and address they had on file.

There you go then.

Check your credit files to make sure there are no more nasty surprises on there.

Ultimately it's up to you how you handle the family member, but you should say something.

If you don't, they may do it again.

Mrs_Ryan

In my bitter experience the police aren't interested. My estranged brother did this to my elderly and disabled parents to the tune of thousands of pounds and the police just said it was a civil matter. I'm still trying to help mum unravel it all.

JustAboutThere

determined_new_ms wrote: »

I would go to the Police. It is fraud and in my experience (with my dd) it is only taking a hard line that nips this kind of stuff in the bud

Yes, its a family member. But I do think you need to involve the police - if only to stop this family member trying again.

Its fraud.

enthusiasticsaver

Check your noddle report to see if there is anything else you are unaware of.

Tell your family member you know what has happened and ask what they intend to do about it. Let them know you will inform the police if needed. It is fraud and you are perfectly justified in reporting it and expecting them to take action. I would also tell the debt collector that this was a fraudulent application and give them the correct name and address.

nkkingston

Even if the police aren't as helpful as they could be, making the individual aware that you consider this a police matter might make them wake up to the reality of what they're doing. People are weirdly blind to the fact that "oh but I deserve this thing and the store card is the cheapest way to get it and I'll definitely pay it back and no harm no foul and Sbm123 will never even find out so it's all okay really" is the same thing as fraud.

Sbm123

I told the debt collector the debt was not mine and was in fact said family members... they said they will freeze the account for a week to see if I can get them to pay if not it's still on me!!

Money_maker

Unless you report it to the police.