Statement of Lisa A. Tropepe, Partner, Shalloway, Foy, Rayman & Newell Inc., West Palm Beach, Florida
Testimony Before the Subcommittee on Social Security
of the House Committee on Ways and Means
Field Hearing in Lake Worth, Florida, on Protecting of the Privacy of Social Security Numbers and Preventing Identity Theft
April 29, 2002
Dear Committee Members:
Good Afternoon, my name is Lisa A. Tropepe and I have been a victim of identity theft. I am beginning my testimony with a copy of a May 7, 1999 letter to Judge Oftedahl articulating the seriousness of the crimes against me and the importance of penalizing the imposter for all the crimes committed.
May 7, 1999
The Honorable Richard L. Oftedahl,
Room 11.2213, Division X
Palm Beach County Courthouse,
205 N. Dixie Highway,
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
IN RE: State of Florida v. Terkesha L. Lane; PBSO # 99-053521; Assigned to Assistant State Attorney Chris Jette, Division X; Arrainment date 5/7/99
Hand Delivered
Dear Judge Oftedahl:
Assistant State Attorney Chris Jette called to let me know that Terkesha L. Lane is scheduled for arraignment today. The crime against me was that the defendant while working as a temporary receptionist at my office stole personal information about me and assumed my identity. She cleaned out my personal bank account and opened several credit card accounts where she charged up thousands of dollars of merchandise.
Although I was initially advised by intake officer Brian Brennan, Esq., that the defendant would be charged with multiple counts of grand theft and counts relating to the fraudulent assumption of my identity, I am now advised that only one charge of theft has been made. My employers and I are concerned that the courts may not be well advised as to the personal seriousness and public danger this crime represents.
With those thoughts in mind, I feel compelled to write this letter in the hope of informing you of the impact of the crime of identity theft that was perpetrated upon me and, indirectly upon my firm, by Ms. Lane.
This person stole approximately $20,000.00 from credit grantors and my personal bank account using my name. She applied and received a valid driver's license with her picture and my name, address, etc., on the license. She subsequently applied for credit cards, received temporary credit limits, and spent accordingly. She also entered my bank several times and withdrew $13,900.00 from my personal bank account. Now I am spending hundreds of frustrating hours dealing by phone and letters with collection companies, banks, credit reporting agencies, governmental agencies, (Division of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, Postal authorities, Social Security, etc.) and various other companies to convince them of the fraud, and to clean up the disaster affecting my credit and other aspects of my finances.
The out-of-pocket costs are substantial. However, far more devastating is learning that someone has invaded every aspect of my life and taken my identity. My credit is ruined, my good reputation is stolen and tarnished, my career and livelihood has been impaired, and I am subjected to possible further invasion in the future.
I will briefly outline several aspects of this nightmare:
My office and I have spent over 100 hours calling, filling out documentation, writing letters return receipt requested to banks, credit reporting agencies, governmental agencies, companies, utilities, credit grantors, etc. to inform them of the fraud in an attempt to prove my own innocence. The burden is on the victim to prove fraud since there is great suspicion by the credit grantors. In fact, since I put fraud alerts and new passwords on all my accounts, I have experienced extensive questioning and delays in dealing with the various banks and agencies. I am told by the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse and the Federal Trade Commission that my problems may go on for several years. See articles attached--including an article from Wednesday's Sun Sentinel which reports a nearly identical case.
This has been a very frightening and invasive nightmare. I have had great difficulty sleeping and have awoken in cold sweats worrying about what else I will find out. The impersonator was a temporary employee at my office. She was our temporary receptionist in charge of outgoing mail and phone messages. When I realized someone had taken my identity and was applying for credit cards in my name, I shared my problem with her. She subsequently hugged me and said everything will be okay. She never waivered in her demeanor. I truly believed that she was concerned. I was shocked to see her caught on tape withdrawing money from my account.
I have had nightmares seeing the defendant invading my home and hurting me physically. She lives in Riviera Beach and I live in Palm Beach Shores (Singer Island), which is only five minutes away. She knows where I live.
Stealing my identity has made me feel very vulnerable and violated. It has been stressful and literally made me ill. I do not like to think of myself as a victim. I am a professional engineer and am responsible for multi-million dollar projects, handling many complex problems related to the health, safety and welfare of the public. Because of this, I thought at first that I could handle this stress without any help. However, I found it so overwhelming that I had to hire an attorney and am in the process of scheduling a meeting with a therapist.
I respectfully request that Your Honor consider the serious nature of these crimes.
I believe this defendant and other wrongdoers who might see this as an easy crime to commit with potentially big money to steal and no real punishment to face, learn that society will not tolerate this type of insidious crime. For that reason, I strongly urge that she experience jail time, not just a couple months on probation.
I am concerned about of what she will do to me in the future. I trust you take this crime seriously. In that connection, I am also concerned that the charges being brought against this wrongdoer don't include charges for credit card theft and fraud under Florida Statute 817.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Lisa A. Tropepe
It has been almost exactly three years since I sent the above May 7, 1999 letter to Judge Oftedahl. In the three years the following has occurred:
1. Terkesha L. Lane never served a day in prison. Terkesha L. Lane still has my social security number, my home address and workplace. If she has not moved, Terkesha L. Lane still lives five minutes away from my home.
2. My credit record will never be the same. Perpetual fraud alerts and annual Credit Bureau inquiries have been and will be a part of my life for the rest of my life.
3. A reoccurrence is always in the back of my mind. After 3 years I still shutter at the thought of someone impersonating me. My summation of this incident can only be described in two words. – “Electronic Rape”.
A part of me wants to thank you for giving me this opportunity to share my experience with all of you. However, a part of me is fearful that my testimonial may call attention to other criminals regarding my vulnerability to be impersonated again. As lawmakers, I trust that you will provide the necessary laws needed to stop this awful crime.