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Identity theft: the scourge of stolen lives
Seen from the outside, it’s an obstacle course, but for the approximately 400,000 victims each year in France, the theft of their identity is an absolute nightmare. And the figures are constantly increasing with the rise of online procedures. – (France 2)
Seen from the outside, it’s an obstacle course, but for the approximately 400,000 victims each year in France, the theft of their identity is an absolute nightmare. And the figures are constantly increasing with the rise of online procedures.
It was a simple apartment search that turned into a nightmare. That day, a computer specialist made an appointment with a company specializing in helping victims of identity theft. Two years ago, to help his son rent accommodation, he gave him copies of all his papers. The file is sent to several owners, two months later he realizes that it has fallen into the wrong hands.
Turning an existence upside down
History repeats itself with other organizations demanding more and more money, almost 100,000 euros in total. A scam that a specialist knows well. “They will make several credit requests simultaneously, so that, when in 15 days the credit is granted, it will multiply the sums of 10,000 euros that they will receive on an account“, explains Fily Kante, founder of ID Protect. Like him, nearly 400,000 French people are victims of identity theft each year in France. And this can turn their lives upside down.
Among our sources
CSA study for Fellowes CSA 2012: “The French and identity crime”
Non-exhaustive list