???

[alienbow]

Me and my mom discovered that a member of our family is using my grandmother's social security number to open different accounts. The accounts have been delinquent and haven't been paid. They have been turned over to collection agencies and attorneys. It has ruined my grandmother's credit. My grandmother has alzheimer's and can't take care of herself. She doesn't know what's going on. We discovered this yesterday. One of the creditors called my grandmother's home trying to collect money owed on the account. We checked my grandmother's credit score and found that the family member responsible has opened up several accounts. How should we handle this?

[JDCOP]

Have your grandmother and her caretaker file a report then contact the credit bureaus and bank to dispute the accounts.

[stoney902]

file a police report with your local department, then as JD stated notify the credit bureaus.

[Rasmblack]

Kick the family member doing this out of the family! Then I recommend the above options.

[Irishluck31]

My mother and I.....

[SgtCHP]

Using another's Social Security Number is a Federal offense. Here is the proper method to handle the issue:

http://www.ssa.gov/oig/guidelin.htm

[RoadKingTrooper]

file a police report with your local department, then as JD stated notify the credit bureaus.

Second the above! Your grandmother is a victim of Identity theft. Be prepared to throw the offending family member under the bus. Their actions on an elderly family member are despicable!

[alienbow]

The family member is my aunt. My mom doesn't want to press charges against my aunt. I say that my mom and uncle press charges. My uncle said that he wants to. My aunt has taken advantage of my grandmother. My aunt has opened up nine accounts in my grandmother's name, without my grandmother's knowledge or authorization. I'm ready to throw her under the bus. I guess I view things differently than my mom and uncle.

[SA13]

Me and my mom discovered that a member of our family is using my grandmother's social security number to open different accounts. The accounts have been delinquent and haven't been paid. They have been turned over to collection agencies and attorneys. It has ruined my grandmother's credit. My grandmother has alzheimer's and can't take care of herself. She doesn't know what's going on. We discovered this yesterday. One of the creditors called my grandmother's home trying to collect money owed on the account. We checked my grandmother's credit score and found that the family member responsible has opened up several accounts. How should we handle this?

Report this to the local PD and make sure a report is made. You will need proof that you reported this to LE for creditors to give you relief on the fraudulent accounts. Also contact the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General, Office of Investigations (SSA/OIG/OI), and the US Postal Inspection Service. These are the Federal agencies that work identity theft cases. This is especially relevant to the SSA/OIG/OI as the SSN was misused.

Good luck.

[Retired96]

Every time your aunt opened a account using false info she committed a felony, submitting a fraudulent credit application is a felony. You say she opened nine accounts, that makes it a least 9 separate felony crimes.

Your aunt deserves to be in jail as she is a criminal.

[L-1]

My mom doesn't want to press charges against my aunt.

Here's the problem with that. If action is not taken to clear up the matter and identify the true person who owes the money, all of the creditors will start filing lawsuits against your grandmother for non-payment because they honestly believe she is the one who ran up the charges.

Because she has Alzheimer's and is unable to defend herself, default judgments will be entered against your grandmother by the court. Her assets will then be seized to pay off those judgments. Seeing that no one is willing to stop her, your aunt will continue and this will go on until your grandmother is penniless, because no one will step up and defend the interests of a helpless woman.

No offense is intended, but the first thing that comes to my mind is that your mother doesn't want to do anything because she is in on it.

[Rasmblack]

Report it now. Who knows after grandmma it might just be your mom or even you that gets hit. I suggest you report it immediatly.

[mdrdep]

It's not up to your mom, protect your family and file the report. In Cali not only is this identity theft it's also elder abuse/fidicuary

[alienbow]

My mom and uncle talked to my aunt. She told them that she wants to pay the bills off that are opened and then close them. I don't really have a say so in the matter as far as how they handle the issue. I wanted them to put my aunt in jail. She did my grandmother wrong. I'm a little disappointed in how they handled the situation. I don't know if she learned anything from this or not.

I also found out by mistake that my aunt is cheating on her husband. I'm not sure how to handle this. My mom and uncle knows about it but they haven't said anything to my aunt. What do you guys think?

[Retired96]

Paying off the bills and closing the accounts does not eliminate the fact that your aunt committed felony crimes and should be punished for her conduct.

Her cheating on her husband is something you should not get involved in.