Dec 14, 2006 10:24 am US/Mountain
ID Theft Victims Work To Restore Names
Victims Of Illegel Immigration Scheme Learned From IRS
DENVER (CBS4) ―
Investigators said hundreds of people may have had their identities stolen by suspects in this week's immigration raid at
Swift & Co. meat plants in Greeley and five other United States cities. Some of the victims said they were already trying to clear-up problems with the
Internal Revenue Service and other government agencies.
Other people may not know they've been victimized.
Some known victims said they were contacted by the IRS for failing to report wages that were actually earned by the alleged
identity thieves.
The case highlights some of the hidden dangers of identity theft. Those include problems with the Department of Motor Vehicle if someone gets a driver's license in someone else's name; or problems getting health care if someone rings up medical claims in another name.
There can also be problems with the law.
"Someone stole her character and she went to jail over the weekend for failing to appear," Steve Kenney, an ID theft specialist said. "It was actually a prostitute who took her identity."
Kenney is a consultant for a company called Pre-Paid Legal Services. It helps clients restore their identity after it has been stolen.
Kenney said victims in the immigration case should be aware of the problems and ready to fight them if they appear.
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Slideshow: See Images From Immigration Raid In Greeley
What To Do If You're An Identity Theft Victim
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