Identity Fraud with family member?
Hello,
I have an American Express credit card and gave my mother a supplement card to help her out. Since her recent bankruptcy and bad credit history she had no access to any credit card. She has been good paying as she knows we are both on this acct. Months later I found out she opened her own Visa credit card. When I confront her she said when she applied she used my AX acct as her referral card. This has always been a fast and easy way one can get a credit card if one has an existing card. She then was able to attain her own card but with my credit history. Later she was able to attain 5 more cards using my supplement AX card.
Am I liable for her unpaid bills?
Her statements are under her name, only thing I am worried about is because my credit was used to open those existing cards she has now.
Am I protected or have I been scammed by my own mother and liable?
Tagged with: american express • american express credit card • bad credit history • bankruptcy • cards • referral card • unpaid bills • visa credit card
Filed under: Family Fraud
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What I understand you saying, is that she was an authorized user on your Amex account, and because of this….was issued an identical card as you from Amex for the account, with her name on it. Because of this, she automatically gets this card reported on her credit file(s), and gets positive history established over time, because the bill is being paid.
It sounds as if she applied for the Visa months later, and because of the recent positive history from the Amex card on her report, was approved for it. It continues to be a domino effect from there, because as she gets more and more open, revolving, and current credit accounts….it shows as favorable….for a short time…
She still has a recent BK on her report, and obviously has serious problems controlling her finances. This is apparent if she now has 6-7 cards in her posession such a short time after filing for bankruptcy.
Here’s what I would do RIGHT NOW. Call Amex, and take her off as an authorized user. Take her card, cut it up. You have obviously helped her enough, so that she can attain her OWN credit cards, she doesn’t need to have access to your Amex account anymore.
If everything I said above sounds about right, then NO….I don’t think you are a victim of fraud. You helped boost her credit file by having Amex issue her a card from your account, therefore giving instant positive history on a likely decent limit card, and it enabled her to get her own cards months down the road.
I would be worried though, that someone with the recent BK and a bad credit history, has so many lines of credit….not a good mix at all. She will be back in the same boat in no time, unless she changes her financial habits and choices.
Your mother scammed Visa. She listed your credit card as her own and no one at Visa bothered to check.
If she listed *your* SSN as her own, she has probably screwed up your credit…and the only way to get those cards off of your account (if they are there) would be to file a police report.
I think it may be an idea to obtain legal advice on this one. However, the way I see it, she has used your credit rating without your knowledge to obtain credit cards.
BUT these cards are in her name right? In which case, SHE is liable for the unpaid bills.
I would strongly advise you to get in touch with American Express and explain what is happening. Ask them to close the account to prevent your Mum from using it again. This will prevent you from being further implicated and hopefully stop your Mum from getting herself deeper in debt. AND it will go on record that it was not of your doing.
If you choose to remain silent, you could wind up with a bad credit rating or worse. She has committed fraud and whilst she is your mother, she is exposing you to being party to criminal activity, especially now you know what she is doing.