Terrified by Criminal Identity Theft:

Thelma Wiloch panics when she hears a knock on her door.

“I am afraid to open the door, thinking it could be the police coming to get me for a crime the other woman committed,” a nervous Wiloch said recently, sitting at the kitchen table in her Balsam Street home.

The “other woman” is someone authorities say identified herself as Thelma Wiloch when DeLand police arrested her in August 2007.

That Thelma Wiloch was caught stealing ribeye steaks at a Winn-Dixie and charged with retail theft. She gave her address as 290 Dogwood Ave., Orange City, spent 10 days in jail for the crime and racked up a $193 fine, which she has not paid.

But when the bill went to the court’s collections department, it was sent to Thelma Wiloch at 182 Balsam St., Deltona, on Jan. 7.

“I was in the hospital for spinal surgery and when I come home I find this scary letter,” Wiloch said. “The letter said that if I don’t pay the fine they will put out a warrant for my arrest or they will suspend my driver’s license.”

Wiloch said now she is afraid to even go to the grocery store or leave her home because she fears being pulled over and arrested.

See the full report at news-journalonline.com.

by Rob Douglas

Today, I was a guest on CyberHood Watch Radio hosted by Dave Ballard and Bill Wardell of CyberHood Watch. We discussed identity theft with a focus on the increasing threat to families and children.  You can listen to an archived recording of the show at It’s Your Identity Defend It – If Not Yours – Your Children.

Dave is the senior editor, creator and developer of New Internet Security.  Bill is also a sought after speaker and the co-host of CyberHood Watch Radio.  Dave’s interest in Internet safety was born of his love for his wife and five kids.  Dave says:

“From early on I engaged the kids in computers telling them, “This is your future.” What I failed to foresee was the nefarious, pervasive, and pandemic scourge unleashed by the underworld. The Internet is too valuable a resource, for “good”, to allow it to be perverted by organized crime and sick-minded individuals. That’s why Bill and I have partnered together, to arm you with knowledge and to keep you and your family out of harms-way. The Internet is here to stay, join us in preserving this valuable resource and by doing so we’ll create a safer Internet for all our families and their children.”

Bill is the senior editor, creator and developer of Online Security Authority, the author of “Don’t Take Candy From Strangers” and an Authority Site Center certified coach.  Bill is also a sought after speaker, national radio guest, co-host of CyberHood Watch Radio, publisher and researcher.

Bill is a husband and father of three.  Bill says:

“The love for his family has been the driving force behind his success over the last few years, and he has been actively been pursuing his passion of becoming a online entrepreneur. His main focus has been working and dealing with the security issues of the day, such as ID theft, online predators, MySpace, teen and children security issues when it comes to Internet safety.”

I hope you’ll take the time to listen to the show on CyberHood Watch Radio for a great discussion about children and identity theft.  If you have any questions please feel free to email me at rob @insideidtheft.info