Milton Teen's Identity Stolen to Buy House When She was Just 13

An 18-year-old filing her taxes for the first time found out not only had someone used her identity for the past two years, they also bought a house in her name when she was only 13.

The Milton teen told Milton police on Feb. 15 that she filed her income taxes for the first time, using H&R Block. But the tax preparation company was told by the IRS that it appeared she had filed tax returns in 2010 and 2011.

A check by her mother with credit reporting agencies revealed the home purchase in 2007.

Victim's Story Sounds Like Something Out of the Movies

Milton police are awaiting more documents before investigating a Milton woman's claim that she's been defrauded of $85,000 since July 2011.

The victim told police on Feb. 16 that she was driving home along Birmingham Highway just north of Providence Road on July 11, 2011, when a vehicle pulled alongside her scooter and forced her off the road. She laid in a ditch for hours because she was too scared to move.

As soon as she walked into her door, the phone rang with someone telling her they knew where she lived and that she needed to follow their instructions. Those were to cash checks sent to her, keeping a portion of the funds and sending the rest to the suspects. She also opened up several credit card accounts to send the suspects money.

She said the suspects claimed she could receive $1 million if she cooperated.

Woman Loses $4,300 Through Forged Check

A Gates Mill Way woman's joint checking account with her daughter had an early withdrawal when someone forged a check for $4,300.

The victim reported to Milton police on Feb. 17 that her bank told her the check was cashed on Feb. 13, but would not tell her where it was cashed. She filed a fraud report with the bank, and was told to also file a police report.

Identity Thief Waits Outside Victim's Home for UPS Delivery

A Milton man checking his American Express account online found several fraud alerts that revealed someone used his credit card and identity fraudulently to buy a laptop.

Milton police were told on Feb. 13 that the suspect bought a MacBook Air laptop from Small Dog Electronics for $1,231. The victim's name, address and account information were used, but the email was different. By tracing the order through the UPS online shipment tracking service, the victim found the packaged had been delivered to his address, and someone signed for it. But the UPS driver thought the man was acting suspicious, so he took down his tag number. That number returned a Stone Mountain address when police checked.

Deerfield Parkway Man Pays for Someone Else's Fishing Tackle

A Deerfield Parkway man reported to Milton police on Feb. 16 that someone used his credit card to buy $186 of goods online from Bass Pro Shops.

The suspect used his credit card information, including home address and telephone number, but had the order sent to a Lindbergh address.

The victim said he placed a 90-day freeze on his credit, and with the police report, he'd be able to extend that to 7 years.

For questions about this blotter, email the editor, Bob Pepalis.