Episode Transcript
Bill Roth: Welcome, Everybody, to the Intellicheck podcast. This is the show where we delve into the news and issues around identity verification, identity fraud, and the tools needed to combat it.
Today, we're taking a bit of a different approach to understanding identity fraud. Instead of diving into the latest news statistics or prevention tips, we're, we're hearing directly from someone who has lived through it.
Identity fraud from a first-person perspective gives us something that no data can. The real human story, the real human cost behind the crime. And with us this week is Albert Moorhead, charter pilot. Welcome, Albert.
Bert Morehead: Thank you. Good to be here.
Bill Roth: So we appreciate you coming on the podcast and sharing your story. Let's get right into it.
So you had some identity problems. What did the identity thieves do with your identity?
Bert Morehead: Well, I believe I had about eight Comcast Internet accounts open and a few apartment applications and a few other things, if I remember correctly.
Bill Roth: Oh, wow.
So how did you discover all this?
Bert Morehead: This was a while ago. I, I had started a with a financial advisor and he wanted me to keep good, good tabs on my credit report.
So I pulled all the credit reports and signed in for credit karma and found all these accounts in a different state, in a different city and then started the long process of getting those removed from my credit report.
Bill Roth: I gotta believe that was awful.
So shameless. Back bank shot log rolling for credit karma, folks. Just be aware.
Always good to get a free credit report when you can to watch out for stuff like that.
So obviously it must have been a lot of work.
How would you characterize the impact of finding all these accounts?
Bert Morehead: It wasn't terrible. I immediately called Comcast and started the process of getting them removed. So it didn't have a huge impact. I mean, my credit score was down probably 120 points just because of all the open accounts and credit polls.
But working with the credit agencies and Comcast, it came back up, probably.
I'd say all in all, it took eight or nine months.
Bill Roth: Wow.
How did they do a good job of verifying that you were you so that I couldn't call in and like cancel your Comcast?
Bert Morehead: Yes, they did. And actually, it was horrible because I had to prove my own identity, and the other people apparently didn't have to try that hard.
Bill Roth: Yeah, interesting. Okay, did they need any special? I mean, obviously, there's a driver's license, a passport.
Did they make you sign affidavits? What, how did that process go?
Bert Morehead: I had to sign affidavits, I had to have a driver's license, a passport, and I believe we had to send a bill proving that I didn't even live in this other state.
You know, I had to have something with my home address on it, and I had affidavits from anybody that lived with me saying that, yes, he lives here, he doesn't live in the other state, and he doesn't travel back and forth. So, yeah.
Wow. It was frustrating.
Bill Roth: I can't even manage.
Imagine the paperwork. So were you. How aware were you of identity fraud, identity theft before it happened to you?
Bert Morehead: I knew it existed. I didn't obviously didn't think it would ever happen to me, and I didn't realize it would be as big of a problem as it was until it did happen.
Bill Roth: Yeah, it sounds like just a nightmare of administrative and all that stuff.
How has it changed? How would you say that it has changed how you view identity theft?
Bert Morehead: It angers me.
Probably the biggest thing, biggest change, and how I deal with it is I obviously monitor my credit report as regularly as the free reports will let me.
I put a password on my credit. Basically, anytime I apply for anything, I get a call from the credit bureau, and I have to give them my password and say, “Yes, it's me”.
It makes life a little bit harder.
I don't want to say harder. More inconvenient, for sure. Sure.
Bill Roth: Interesting. Well, folks, there you've got two solid tips.
Check out those free credit reports.
We heard about Credit Karma today. There's freecreditreport.com, and you know, keep an eye on your. There are ways to do freezes and holds on your credit so that you can stay attached to it. And those are always, always good ideas. And if you ever get a letter that says your're it's been breached and they offer you free credit reporting, take it. I think that would be all. That would be one of my recommendations.
All right, folks, well, that's all we have time for today.
My guest today on the Intellicheck podcast has been Albert Morehead, who is a charter pilot, and we've been discussing his personal experience with identity fraud. That's all for this week. Thank you for listening to the Intellicheck podcast, and we'll see you next time on the Intellicheck podcast.
