Identity Theft: The Michelle Brown Story

Michelle Brown's Dream and Identity Theft

• Michelle's lifelong dream was to own a house, representing personal achievement and stability.
• Her identity was stolen by Connie when Michelle provided her with important personal information on a form.

Identity Theft Incident

• The theft occurred while Michelle was filling out paperwork for her new house.
• The first purchase made by the thief was a skirt, indicating how quickly the stolen identity was exploited.
• Michelle discovered the identity theft after her credit card was denied; the credit card company informed her of exceeding her limit due to large, unauthorized purchases.

Thief's Criminal Background

• Connie, the identity thief, had a history of illegal activities, including multiple possession of controlled substances, forgery, and burglary.

Consequences of Theft

• At the airport, Michelle was pulled aside and questioned due to the identity theft but was ultimately released without charges.
• To reclaim her identity, Michelle reached out to a privacy rights organization for assistance.

Impact of Identity Theft

• Besides financial theft, the criminal took critical personal information, including Michelle's social security number, driver's license number, and credit cards.
• The thief was not convicted for identity theft but received a 2-year sentence for grand theft.

Broader Context of Identity Theft

• In the previous year, an estimated 7 million Americans experienced identity theft, highlighting the prevalence of this crime.
• The Identity Theft Penalty Enhancement Act was signed into law on July 15, 2004, enhancing penalties for those committing identity theft during major crimes.