It turned out that the man was wanted for rape. The connection with him and my friend was that his girlfriend was the one that had stolen her identity. She was also wanted for criminal activity.

So now, my friend had a stolen identity, a credit contract taken out in her name and there was a criminal conne

A friend recounted this true story:

The phone rang one day. The voice at the other end sounded unfamiliar but official. “Is that Mrs Malone?”

“Yes”

“This is Detective Inspector Morgan of the Metropolitan CID”

“Oh?”

“We would like to travel up to see you to ask you some questions”

“Oh … OK”

A few days later and my friend was sitting in the police station confronted by two officious looking, but thankfully pleasant, Detective Inspectors.

Then came the questions. What was her full name, address, telephone number and occupation ? Where did she work and where did she live? In fact where had she ever lived? Did she own a mobile phone and when was the contract taken out? Who does she live with and hang around with and what were her movements on a specific date mentioned by the officers?

The questions continued and, although she didn’t feel at all threatened, she was bemused and increasingly suspicious.

Then came the bombshell. Someone had stolen her identity and taken out a mobile phone in her name. A credit history had been initiated in her name but for someone else’s benefit.

It got worse.

She was shown a photo of a rough looking man. Did she know him? Had she ever met him? Could she be sure?

It turned out that the man was wanted for rape. The connection with him and my friend was that his girlfriend was the one that had stolen her identity. She was also wanted for criminal activity.

So now, my friend had a stolen identity, a credit contract taken out in her name and there was a criminal connec

h … OK”

A few days later and my friend was sitting in the police station confronted by two officious looking, but thankfully pleasant, Detective Inspectors.

Then came the questions. What was her full name, address, telephone number and occupation ? Where did she work and where did she live? In fact where had she ever lived? Did she own a mobile phone and when was the contract taken out? Who does she live with and hang around with and what were her movements on a specific date mentioned by the officers?

The questions continued and, although she didn’t feel at all threatened, she was bemused and increasingly suspicious.

Then came the bombshell. Someone had stolen her identity and taken out a mobile phone in her name. A credit history had been initiated in her name but for someone else’s benefit.

It got worse.

She was shown a photo of a rough looking man. Did she know him? Had she ever met him? Could she be sure?

It turned out that the man was wanted for rape. The connection with him and my friend was that his girlfriend was the one that had stolen her identity. She was also wanted for criminal activity.

So now, my friend had a stolen identity, a credit contract taken out in her name and there was a criminal conne

ad she ever lived? Did she own a mobile phone and when was the contract taken out? Who does she live with and hang around with and what were her movements on a specific date mentioned by the officers?

The questions continued and, although she didn’t feel at all threatened, she was bemused and increasingly suspicious.

Then came the bombshell. Someone had stolen her identity and taken out a mobile phone in her name. A credit history had been initiated in her name but for someone else’s benefit.

It got worse.

She was shown a photo of a rough looking man. Did she know him? Had she ever met him? Could she be sure?

It turned out that the man was wanted for rape. The connection with him and my friend was that his girlfriend was the one that had stolen her identity. She was also wanted for criminal activity.

So now, my friend had a stolen identity, a credit contract taken out in her name and there was a criminal conne

ous.

Then came the bombshell. Someone had stolen her identity and taken out a mobile phone in her name. A credit history had been initiated in her name but for someone else’s benefit.

It got worse.

She was shown a photo of a rough looking man. Did she know him? Had she ever met him? Could she be sure?

It turned out that the man was wanted for rape. The connection with him and my friend was that his girlfriend was the one that had stolen her identity. She was also wanted for criminal activity.

So now, my friend had a stolen identity, a credit contract taken out in her name and there was a criminal conne

It turned out that the man was wanted for rape. The connection with him and my friend was that his girlfriend was the one that had stolen her identity. She was also wanted for criminal activity.

So now, my friend had a stolen identity, a credit contract taken out in her name and there was a criminal connection between “her” identity and a suspected rapist.

It was all sorted out and my friend’s name was withdrawn from police inquiries. The matter was, however, deeply unsettling and unpleasant.