The Day I Lost My Identity

Most people know the importance of keeping identity theft insurance but what happens when you are too young to enroll in such a program? I was only sixteen years old when my Identification card and my social security number was stolen. I wasn't worried about it at the time because I was only sixteen and the police told me that they were not able to do anything unless this person uses it for work or an illegal activity.

I never realized how important these document are until I became older and started filing for credit and getting my utilities turned on. I was only seventeen when I rented my first house. I was excited because I had a job and was now on my own. If I would have known what this world was like, I would have stayed at home and finished school but I didn't because I had already became a mother at this time.

My dad had all of the utilities turned on in his name for me because in Oklahoma you have to be eighteen to get any type of credit for anything, including your utilities. I guess that they don't want children ruinning their good name before they even have the chance to reach adult hood. I never once complained about it, because I was happy to be making it on my own.

I moved to Oklahoma City when right after I had turned eighteen. I moved so that I could be closer to my sister, who was my best friend. We all lived in the same house together so their was no need for me to get any utilities on in my name.

I was visiting a friend one day and I guess that I must have fallen asleep on the couch, when I woke up it was morning again. I never realized that this one trip would change my life forever. My car was broken into, and my purse was stolen. Inside of my purse was my Identification card and mine and my kid's Social Security Numbers. I don't know why I left it in the car, I had never done this before. I went to the police station and filled a report with them.