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I was scammed by someone who had stolen another sugar daddy’s identity and pretended to be him and offered to spoil me.

Long story short, they were able to have my name, school ID, phone number, address, bank account information, and even my SSN.

I’ve already changed the information to all of my bank accounts after the fraudulent checks bounced and left me negative in my bank account and I finally decided to acknowledge that I was being scammed.

However, I received a number of spam messages from numbers, one even using my first name, and received obviously scam voicemails as well. I’m worried the scammer will use my identity to pretend to be me, as they have with the guy who I thought was my sugar daddy, if they haven’t already done so.

I’ve read threads about calling the bank and closing and opening a new account, but my account is a student account under my dad’s name and I haven’t told my family that I’ve been scammed yet.

I also don’t want to report it to the police and make matters official with lawyers and everything.

Out of spite, I convinced the scammer I was also a scammer by sending them scam-like messages but I’m not sure if it’ll do anything to the reputability of my identity, as I’m thinking that maybe by pretending the identity I gave them was fake will deter them from using it.

Please let me know what I should do.

Cody
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user96897
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4 Answers4

59

You fooled yourself into thinking that you could get something for nothing, and now you're fooling yourself that this will all just go away if you are sufficiently clever. What happens if the folks who were paid with bad check start filing criminal complaints against you? What are you going to say to your father when the bank calls him about the overdraft?

The way to get out from under this is to level with your parents, and have them work with you to sort it out. It certainly will involve the bank, maybe getting a new SSN. It might involve police and lawyers, but the sooner you work the legitimate channels to clear it up, the less likely that will be.

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It sounds like the main thing to worry about is your bank account. If it were me, I'd call the bank and tell them you've been the victim of identity theft, and see what they say you need to do from there. It may require filing a police report, or getting your parents involved, since they're on the account, but the only way to find out is to talk to someone at your bank.

Cody
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It seems those sugar daddies platforms are a hotbed for scammers praying on young innocent girls, who expect to get an iPhone for a virtual relationship. Anyways...

As to any scam, ask yourself if something is too good to be true. It's easier to prevent it than to repair it.

Regarding your case, you should:

  • report it to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Check their official guide here
  • review your credit reports with main agencies like Equifax, Experian, Innovis, TransUnion. Watch out for things that do not originate from you
  • consider freezing the credit files in the said agencies above

Most identity thieves are after the money. Some are stalkers trying to harm the victim, but in this case it seems his interest is purely financial. Once he sees that you are reacting and cannot get anything more from you, he will move forward towards another victim.

Also notice that identity theft is not only about ordering stuff online and credit. It can also involve fraudulent IRS fillings or for obtaining medical services/product under your name.

Quora Feans
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First of all, procedures can vary from country to country. But what you need to know to avoid charges and criminal acts against yourself by things you didn't do is to file it at a police station and/or judge/courts. If you don't file or present anything it means everything is ok, you cannot go to anywhere when they have done something in your name.

To put an example if someone did a payment with my card without consent, I cannot retrieve any money if I don't tell the police and write a criminal action against the people who did it.

Alpha-Isomethyl-Ionone
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