Identity Theft Victim's Story

Ginny Schelp is a full-time college student and working mom and every dollar she earns goes toward paying the bills and supporting her son.

So when the bank teller told Ginny that money had been withdrawn to pay a pricey Cingular Wireless bill, Ginny began to worry.

Not long after discovering the fraudulent wireless account, Ginny discovered fraudulent accounts with Verizon Telephone Services, DirectTV, Sprint PCS, Swiss Colony and Dell Computers. She also learned that the thieves had tried to open credit card accounts using her name and personal information.

Ginny did everything she could to protect herself. She opened a new checking account, placed a fraud alert on her credit files, filed a report with the Federal Trade Commission and sought help from her local Sheriffs Department. But nothing helped.

Ginny continues to fight for her financial privacy to this day. The security freeze passed by the Legislature in 2007 will allow Ginny to finally reclaim her disrupted life.