Thread: Family battles illegal immigrant ID theft all the way to Was

Family battles illegal immigrant ID theft all the way to Washington
Anthony Welsch 2 hrs ago

A couple battling an identity theft nightmare has taken their story all the way to Capitol Hill for a hearing on immigration.

It started with a speeding ticket and became a several-year nightmare for Jayme and Lora Costner of Newport.

"I was kind of shocked and then it snowballed from there," Jayme Costner said. "The report says 4'11" hispanic male, I'm not really a 4'11" hispanic male."

After a search and court procedures, Costner realized his identity was stolen by a man who was dating his wife's sister.

But the identity trouble didn't end there.

The Costners soon found out about a worker's compensation claim at Morristown's Koch foods under Lora Costner's name and social security number.

Costner has never worked there.

So she filed identity theft charges with police, but the law does not prohibit using a false identity to get employment.

"Two weeks later, we got a letter and we owed $7,854 in back taxes."

Because their social security numbers and names were attached to earnings in Morristown, the IRS came calling for money owed.

So the Costners started calling politicians. Congressman David Davis threw his weight behind their struggle with the IRS and invited Lora Costner to testify to a House of Representatives sub-committee.

Her testimony is available on You Tube.

"It's one thing to protect the immigrant, it's another to protect the American citizen," Representative Davis (R), Tennessee said.

The Congressman says the immigration hearing dealt primarily with how to most humanely and sensitively go into employers and do "immigration raids".

Davis says he invited Lora Costner to tell her story and give the other side of the immigration issue.

"We were fed up and so tired," Lora Costner said. "I think people genuinely wanted to help but they just didn't know how."

That's where a program called 287 (g) aims to bridge the gap between the enforcement provided by federal authorities and local jurisdictions.

It gives local officers more role in enforcing immigration law. The Morristown Police Department has tried to get in but has been rejected before.

Rep. Davis is now backing a House bill to allow more communities into the program.

"So they can work along with ICE to make sure people are picked up and deported when they need to be," Davis said.

Critics and immigration rights supporters argue expanding authority on immigration law could lead to legal immigrants being unnecessarily hassled and constantly asked for their documentation.

As for the Costners, the nearly $8,000 they were billed in back taxes has been waived, but they worry false tax statements from 2006 and 2007 are still looming ahead.

The Costners have filed a lawsuit against Koch Foods, saying the company knowingly employed undocumented workers. The family says they've turned down an offer to settle their case for $1,000. As of Monday evening, the Illinois-based chicken processor said they had no one available to comment on the situation.

If you fear you've been the victim of identity theft, your first step should be to put an alert on your credit report with the three major credit reporting bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.

Next, you want to close any accounts you feel might have been compromised, file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission, and file a report with local authorities. You can find detailed information on the Federal Trade Commission's website.

www.wbir.com

WHY IS IT THAT THE VICTIM GET STUCK HAVING TO JUMP THROUGH ALL THESE HOOPS?

ONCE IT IS DETERMINED THAT THE IDENTITY WAS STOLEN, THEN THE VICTIM SHOULD JUST HAVE TO LIST ALL OF THE BREACHES AND AND SEND A COPY TO ALL CONCERNED. THAT SHOULD BE THE END OF IT.

AND THE COMPANY WHO HIRED THE PERSON USING THE STOLEN IDENTITY SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL COSTS, TAXES, AND ANY OTHER EXPENSES. IN FACT THEY SHOULD HAVE TO HIRE SOMEONE TO STRAIGHTEN EVERYTHING OUT.

THE VICTIM SHOULD NOT HAVE TO DO THIS.

Totally for the victim

All merchants and employers aided and abetted

The Costners have filed a lawsuit against Koch Foods, saying the company knowingly employed undocumented workers. The family says they've turned down an offer to settle their case for $1,000. As of Monday evening, the Illinois-based chicken processor said they had no one available to comment on the situation.

Victims of ID theft can sue the employers of illegal aliens. As more employers are sued, they will soon realize that their cheap labor isn't really as cheap as they thought.

All merchants and employers aided and abetted

Years ago, I had a family member who lived with me that had a drug problem. He opened a GEMoney card account with me as co-signer. I never co-signed anything. As I understand it, he did it all via the telephone and the internet. It was a minor expense so we did not prosecute. We did get the card voided. GEMoney said that since the card was obtained from my house it was granted. (Based on my telephone number.)

I told them to cancel the card and never grant any cards without my written signature. I even told that to the Fraud Division. Well, the family member got involved with drugs again and GEMoney re-activated the card again. This time, the value charged was over $2000.00.

Again, I was told that the card was activated from my home and there was no way to stop it. I asked re: my previous interface with them and my instructions NOT to ever issue anything without my written signature.

Friends, the business people do not care. They grant credit cards to people with bad credit ratings. All they care about is to get the cards out there. They do not attempt to verify or check who the applicants really are.

It has been a while. I helped the family member pay off the debt. (I had to, MY NAME was on the card too. I sit and ponder every once in a while if I should have sued GEMoney card. They are responsible for issuing a card over the telephone with no way of proving who is applying.