HOUSTON – A local woman who is blind said her credit is destroyed after her identity was stolen.
When Michelle, who is legally blind, went car shopping with her husband, Don, back in early November, both of them handed over their personal information to three different dealerships to have their credit run. They didn't think anything of it.
"I've done this plenty of times in the past, and this is the first time this has ever happened," Michelle said.
A few weeks later, she received a phone call, notifying her that her identity had been stolen.
"I became depressed and glum and mad, frustrated," Michelle said.
Her husband's identity had been stolen, too. By the time the couple found out, Harris County Financial Crimes investigators said an unidentified woman caught on surveillance video had gone on a huge spending spree, using their stolen information. A total of 23 different lines of credit were opened in both their names.
"When somebody messes with my money, then that's when my boxing gloves come on. Because you know, I am a very frugal person," Michelle said.
Investigators said the thief bought close to $15,000 worth of merchandise from Kohl's, Dillard's, Target and Nordstrom to Neiman Marcus and bunch of other stores in the Galleria and Deerbrook Mall. She also hit the outlet stores in San Marcos, just outside of Austin.
"She's done this before. She was comfortable. She knew where to go. She knew how to walk in these stores," said Sgt. L. Peterson, with the Harris County Sheriff's office Financial Crimes division.
Michelle says it took her close to 100 hours to clean up her credit.
Financial crimes investigators say any time you give out your personal information, notify your bank and the different credit bureaus immediately so they can make a record of it.
If you recognize the woman in the surveillance video, call Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS or the Harris County Sheriff's Office Financial Crimes division at 713-967-5770.