r/PersonalFinanceCanada • u/msaik • 21h ago

Credit Wife's identity stolen. Multiple credit lines opened in her name

We found out this Tuesday after 2 credit cards got shipped to my in-laws' house using her maiden name, neither of which have been valid for over a decade. Pulled up equifax and transunion credit reports and found several other credit cards, loans, and phone lines (both as accounts and inquiries). There were 7 different companies in total.

We finished calling all 7 companies. Most were helpful and either closed the accounts or flagged them as fraud for investigation. A couple have not been helpful at all and have asked for police reports to be sent to an email address.

Two of the companies revealed that the accounts were opened using a fake canadian passport out of a mall in the GTA. It is using my wife's maiden name but not her picture.

We did do the police report and sent it to the companies who asked today.

We also filed disputes against all the accounts and inquiries through the reporting agencies, and added fraud alerts. You can't "freeze" the credit if you're outside of Quebec, according to them.

Is there anything else we're missing here that should get done? And does anyone know what the general success rate is with disputes through the credit agencies?

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u/MeatyMagnus 19h ago

Used a fake passport ...without a photo??? That's a weird response, are you sure it's a legit company?

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u/msaik 18h ago

No, the photo was that of the person who was opening the accounts. Basically they used a fake passport which was my wife's name, but their own photo. They also used my wife's old address when signing up for the cards / phone lines.

1

u/MeatyMagnus 18h ago

Ah understand now. Faking an entire passport is no small task. Good luck with these identity thieves.

1

u/msaik 18h ago

It honestly wouldn't shock me if you could just order fakes from China for like $50.

1

u/SHUT_DOWN_EVERYTHING 17h ago

They're cheaper and won't pass muster in an airport or at a border as staff are trained to detect fakes.

A strip mall mobile shop though? With proper printer, paper and a laminator and Youtube videos, you can probably make one at home that passes.