Teen steals autistic friend's identity, racks up $35,000 of debt

I don't know if one can blame a parent; sometimes people are just absent some vital character component, I believe. Lots of good parents have raised kids who have just gone wrong just as lots of really pathetic parents have raised kids who have somehow turned out great. Parents influence but they don't determine.

No. It's parental failure. You can't blame on one's lack of a vital character component because, deep down inside, the human being is an @!$%#. The human being is, at best a failure, at worst God's first mistake. God's second mistake was giving the human race a second chance.

Read the verse in Genesis where the Bible admits that God regretted creating humans.

If laws were made to punish the parents along with their children, I bet you that children's behavior would change dramatically.

I'm going to guess that neither Metal Guitarist nor Al 616 are parents.

I've had my share of "parenting"-and the person whom I was helping wasn't even mine. His father didn't want to do his duty, so I had to do it for him over a span of ten years.

Me? A parent? F-no! I'll pass. There are too many irresponsible morons who let their kids do anything and then wonder how their kids grew up to be irresponsible.

I agree.

Stuff like this makes me sick. What a great friend this guy is.

My brother (not the autistic one) was robbed. He knew who took it and where they would fence it. We had information on much of the items taken...

The officer went on vacation.

They just don't care too much about "low end items"... sorry I know the camera and especially the computer was not low end

..... now if it is a car or a gun, they might actually do something

It is pretty sad.... Austin is a big town. Texas a big state.

You may still have an avenue with your landlord and the supposed security he or she offers.

I disagree with your proposed solution. I disagree that the common man has no interest in protecting the vulnerable and i disagree that

government must infiltrate every facet of society so as to make sure that the weakest citizens of society are protected.

Quite honestly I don't want to live in a society you've described.

I know from personal experience that the common man could care less. If you don't want to live in the society I described, either practice your citizenship and stand for the oppressed or don't complain when the federal government has to do it for you in the same way that Eisenhower dispatched the National Guard so that the Little Rock Nine could go to school.

I don't know which "common man" you've met, but the vast majority of people I've met in my 50+ years do care about each other. There are exceptions, and lately I've seen and heard more hatred and divisiveness than at any other time in my life, but I think that's the politics of today more than a representation of our society.

Our nation, this society that once legalized slavery of African people and prohibited marriage between people of different races just elected and inaugurated a man of biracial heritage. We are changing. The hatred and divisiveness we're seeing right now, I believe, is push-back, and I believe it will pass. The government becoming more intrusive and taking away individual freedoms will do nothing to help individuals.

It was the federal government that did all of that. The People won't evolve on their own-they never do. Just ask the Little Rock Nine.

Isn't it funny how only the Republicans intrude on personal freedom?

We are not changing fast enough. The best way to change society is through intimidating the majority into granting equal rights to the oppressed.

Wrong, Kate. Is it possible that you're living in Pleasant Valley? No one looks after their fellow man. The government must do it because humans won't do it on their own. If that were true, people with developmental disabilities would be working full-time.

More government is the only answer to this problem.

*Grin* Sometimes... I'm all for vigilante justice.

that is my Husband...vigilante

LMAO! Good for your husband!

I think we have something in common deeanna. Friend request sent ;)

I hadn't received it, so I sent you one.

got it friend;)

My brother lives in a group home... I sometimes worry about staff members.. most of them are pretty good... but all you need is that one.

You hear about this kind of low humanbeing in nursing homes as well. Some people think, if they can get away with it they will do it... and who better than someone who they see as weak.

You can never be too careful. You need to order a credit report on him at least once a year.

You know I never thought about that.. I will run that by my mom

The credit crunch didn't hurt him, did it?

Need to help them shred all documentation... that is how identity is stolen... I could see someone hubbering around the garbage can of some facility or group home. All they need is your ss#, or some random # from a catalog you toss out.

The victim's Mother made reference to her son being too trusting. So, at sometime or another, the victim may have fallen for some kind of excuse his 'friend' used for needing his social security number. The victim is 21 and he, or his guardians, probably had not placed a credit freeze on his credit file reports (which he could later lift). In addition, he, or his guardians, probably had not submitted an additional information request (pertinent information such as disability, limitations, not eligible for employment due to disability etc which becomes a permanent part of your credit file.. this can also be lifted if he'd choose to do so sometime in the future). This is something that I recommend to guardians (as well as parents of students) all the time.

If I recall correctly, there were other victims too so the accused probably figured out that he could apply for credit from multiple sources (at the same time) but they couldn't be processed at the same time so some inquiries wouldn't appear on the report yet and the credit history wasn't damaged (yet)...especially possible if the accused claimed the victim to be a student at the time the applications were submitted and considering the victim's age they would have no reason to dispute it. I've never seen credit card companies request college history or verification of enrollment....but, in my opinion, they should be required to do so. Of course, this doesn't apply if the parent obtains credit for the child and co-signs on it to guarantee payment.

Most likely, credit card companies started rejecting applications when numerous inquiries starting showing up but by then the 'accused' probably had several accounts established. He then probably maxed out the credit limits before the victims credit rating was ruined by ratios and non-payment. Once this occurred the accused probably just moved on to the next victim and started the routine over again...and the previous victims started receiving demands for payment and collection notices.

Unfortunately, ID theft is everywhere but it is especially outrageous when the victim is a vulnerable and/or disadvantaged person. I've even seen parents put utilities, cable/internet, cell phone services etc in their child's name (after the parents were disconnected for non-payment). Then, when the child gets to adulthood, he couldn't get utilities (and such) turned on as he already had established accounts ... or the parents didn't pay the bills again so the collection was well in the process on these too. Nebraska recently had a case where a car salesman took personal information from his vehicle sales paperwork and made them victims of ID theft...and of course, there's always the food, bar, and retail store employees (and gas pumps with credit card readers installed without being detected) where they capture credit card numbers and other pertinent information to victimize customers.

(and gas pumps with credit card readers installed without being detected) where they capture credit card numbers and other pertinent information to victimize customers.

How does that work? I believe you're mistaken and just portrayed multiple industries (gas pump manufacturers, gasoline retailers, to name two) as conspirators in fraud. You might want to rethink that or at least rethink your wording on that.

The criminal inserts a small device (a reader) into the gas station's fuel pump's card reader that captures personal information from your debit or credit card as you insert it to pay for your gas at the pump. I did not make any claim (or even imply) that the retailer or manufacturer was responsible for this scam. Numerous cases have been reported alleging it was an employee of the station (or his or her friends) responsible for the skimming but it has also been done by those with no connection to the business where the machine is located. The device is very small and made to appear like it's part of the machine. Most often it goes unnoticed until much damage has been done to victims. It was first found to be used in 2008 and is now happening throughout the country. It's the same method used by thieves to capture the information at ATMs for years.

So, you may want to do some research on the matter. To get you started, I've provided the following link which will take you to a story (just one of thousands) on the scam dating back to August, 2008. http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/energy/2008-08-04-gaspumpskimming_N.htm

MJ :-)

Kate, if you'v nothing to hide, you've no reason to fear the federal government.

I've nothing to hide. Anyone who thinks they have nothing to fear from government has failed to study history or to understand the basics of psychology.

I know my history. I know what happens when the masses abuse the under class-they get exactly what they deserve.

You call it a left-wing dictatorship. I call it justice.

The basics of psychology.....hm.

Read about Vlad Dracula, King of Wallachia and how he operated.

The basics of psychology were at work in his kingdom-on a daily basis.