ID Theft

[TXlib]

Is it just me, or do other people's gut reaction of what they'd like to do with ID theft criminals TOTALLY out of line with the magnitude of the crime?

For me, what I'd like to do to them involves alligator clips, a car battery, needlenose pliers, an ice pick, a blowtorch, hydrochloric acid, and me taking my time with them for days.

I don't feel this sort of visceral hatred for pretty much any other type of criminal, however. And I've never been the target of ID theft, so it's not personal.

[Redstone]

1. Sounds to me like the right punishment

for spammers as well.

Redstone

[lpbk2713]

2. Throw in telemarketers for good measure.

[TXlib]

3. Here's my torment for spammers:

Nail their scrotum (or labia) to an old tree stump. Light the stump on fire, and give 'em a rusty old butterknife.

[tjwmason]

4. Can I join you?

I've never had any I.D. theft personally; my mother had a couple of extra items on her credit-card bill once, once she reported them the company saw that they were in Brazil and knocked them off without any probs.

I suspect that it is because I.D. theft does not merely take one's money, but actually in some senses takes one's life.

I'll bring along a partially blunt razor to help the fun along. :evilgrin:

[Rabrrrrrr]

5. ID thieves, and those who kill/beat up gays and minorities and child abuse

Those really are insidious and awful crimes, the ones that piss me off more than anything else.

Druggies murdering each other? Couldn't care less. Standard punishment for them.

Bank robbery? Who cares. Standard punishment.

[yvr girl]

6. As a recent, and still recovering victim, I offer this opinion

I have an urge for violence - torture. It's not quite as specific as the scenario you seem to have worked out. (Hung out in public, naked by their 'privates' (not sure of the engineering on this aspect) and pelted with rotten vegetables. I also imagine a lot of screaming by angry throngs.)

I'm not normally an angry person, if fact I am known to be quite laid back. I've questioned my response to this crime. I've been the victim of other crime. I've had things stolen. My car has been broken into. I wasn't pleased with these events, but I had no desire to do bodily harm.

Identity theft is just different. It's very personal. At one point it had me parked on the side of the highway crying. They stole my mail and got all my banking and investment information. They had my phone and cell phone info. Credit card info. Social Insurance number, driver's license number - everything.

What did they do. Nearly cleaned out my accounts. Got a bunch of credit cards in my name as well as a cell phone. Changed my contact info with my bank and credit card company. Impersonated me, when the bank called 'me' to check on things. Forwarded my cell phone to the new cell phone to intercept my calls. Forwarded packages to 'my sister's' house etc.

All my accounts were frozen for a week and I had no money. I had to depend on a friend to fill up my car with gas and buy food. (Thanks.) I had to convince the bank that it wasn't me. I had to set up all new bank accounts and credit cards. I had to change all the auto payments that come out of my accounts. I no longer get mailed delivered to my home - I go to the post office to get it (which costs money.) My mother is afraid to leave messages on my cell phone. Oh, and reams of paperwork.

The only way I could feel more violated is if I was raped. Just my 2 cents.

[WilmywoodNCparalegal]

7. Bill collectors, credit reporting agencies, Fair & Isaac

and pretty much all credit card companies should be added to the category, as well as people who hurt and/or abuse pets.

[dryan]

8. Frankly....

about all any of us have is our name. Also, if you had to prove you are who you say you are -- would you be able to? I was a victim of ID theft back in the 1980s. The woman who did it had the same name as mine but got into trouble in Michigan, then moved to Texas, and then to Orlando. She went to the SS office and said she lost her card and was she couldn't remember hernumber. They gave her a new card with my SS number on it. This is a lot harder to do now folks-thank God. This gal even had an operation at Orlando Regional Medical Center using my SS number. It took me years to get it completely straightened out.