Pot times July 18, 2005

Is That Meth-Head Using Your Name?

URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n1135/a08.html
Newshawk: chip

Pubdate: Mon, 18 Jul 2005
Source: Sun Herald (MS)
Copyright: 2005, The Sun Herald
Contact: letters@sunherald.com
Website: http://www.sunherald.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/432
Author: Fresno Bee

Other Voices

IS THAT METH-HEAD USING YOUR NAME?

If the increasing numbers of methamphetamine users in the San Joaquin Valley don't strike fear into your pocketbooks, consider that 70 percent of Fresno's identity theft cases are committed by meth addicts.

They stay up for days finding ways to steal your personal financial information and then use it to run up thousands of dollars in purchases in your name.

It is time to get serious about these two growing crimes...  the penalties must be stiffened for both crimes.  Right now, the crooks see these crimes as essentially free rides.

According to Alameda police Sgt.  Tony Munoz, an expert in the meth-identity theft connection.  Munoz says that 90 percent of meth addicts use identity theft to support their habits.

Meth is a national scourge, an estimated 12.3 million Americans 12 and older having tried the highly addictive meth at least once, according to the 2003 National Survey on Drug Use and Health.  Last year alone, 10 million Americans were victims of identity theft.

Crime victims who suffer from identity theft must deal with the consequences for years.  Their credit gets ruined immediately and it's not simple to straighten out the problem.  You can even be hounded by collection agencies that don't buy your story that you're the victim, even if you have police reports to prove it.

A story in Sunday's Bee recounted the toll the crime took on a Fresno man after his identity was stolen during a break-in of his car parked in front of his parents' house.  His wallet was taken and the nightmare began.  He landed in jail before police finally sorted out the facts and determining he was the victim of identity theft.

Meth and ID theft are a terrible combination for law-abiding citizens.  It's time that our elected officials recognize the seriousness of these problems.  They will only become more widespread unless we make a commitment to solve them with the resources that the problems require.

FRESNO BEE Fresno, Calif.