Keeping ID theft in the family

A Tulsa woman wants to warn others about a growing trend in <b><a class="headlinelink" href="http://www.kotv.com/main/home/searchKOTV.asp?mainSearch=identity theft">identity theft</a></b>. The majority

Friday, June 10th 2005, 6:44 am

By: News On 6

A Tulsa woman wants to warn others about a growing trend in identity theft. The majority of suspects are actually related to the victims.

Leta Badgwell recently applied for a better job, but wasn't hired when her background check showed arrests for drugs and burglary. The problem is, those charges are her sister's. Leta's sister gave Letaâ€™s name during arrests several years back.

So now, every time the sister gets in trouble, it shows up on Leta's record. She says identity theft can steal more than your money or credit. "They can have my money or credit, it's maxed to the "T" but with someone using your name, you can't get a job. I want to let people know it's not just strangers, its family members."

There is no agency that can fix this type of identity theft. Leta sent her fingerprints to the OSBI and a member of the Tulsa County District attorney's office is going to research her case.