José was unable to marry or recognize his children when they were born… because his identity was stolen. His life became hell after his papers were stolen almost twenty-five years ago. He was even almost the victim of a miscarriage of justice, arrested for a crime he did not commit. He recounts this nightmare in this extract from “Special Envoy”.
It was in the summer of 2000 that José’s life changed. A few days after the birth of his daughter, when he was about to declare her to the Family Allowance Fund, he was told that his benefit number was already registered. The bank account attached to it is not José’s. He then makes the connection with the disappearance of his papers on a train a year earlier, and understands that the thief is usurping his identity. Equipped with his personal information, by replacing his photo on the copy of his identity card, his “double” receives social benefits in his place. José files a complaint, but the usurper will go much further.
The current complaint does not prevent the scammer from building a life with José’s identity. The day the latter asks for a birth certificate, he can read “married” there, in London, to a woman he does not know. Under the name José, the usurper has a job, children… and commits scams. José is asked for unpaid taxes, loan repayments, up to 1,000 euros per month. He can no longer work legally, since his double is declared in his place…
A nightmare that seems endless
One day in 2009, the unthinkable happened. Leaving his house, José comes face to face with the GIGN. The police take him away. While in police custody, he learned that he was wanted for the rape and kidnapping of two women. José is finally exonerated, and his usurper sentenced to twelve years in prison. Ten years after filing his first complaint, José is recognized as a victim and believes he is off the hook. But her nightmare seems endless, even with her usurper behind bars. It has now been going on for twenty-five years.
Like José, 400,000 people are victims of identity theft each year in France, according to an estimate by the security services. With the end of paper forms and the rise of online procedures, the number of these crimes has exploded. By stealing someone else’s name to take out consumer loans, rent an apartment, take public transport without paying… the scammers make their victims experience daily hell.
Excerpt from “The hell of identity theft”, a report to watch in “Special Envoy” on October 26 2023.
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