In a story that’s shocking and disturbing, a Reddit user recently revealed that their parents committed credit card fraud. The parents secretly opened credit cards in their child’s name and racked up more than $10,000 in debt, using the funds to pay for multiple cruises without their child’s knowledge or consent.
The story has since sparked widespread outrage and concern, especially as it highlights the risks of identity theft, even within families.
A Shocking Discovery
The post’s title says it all, “My parents opened a credit card in my name, without my knowledge, and defaulted on it. I now owe more than $10,000 and my dad said they used the money “to go on cruises”.”
The Reddit user first became suspicious when their parents, who rarely took vacations, suddenly managed to go on two cruises in a single year. Despite their parents’ seemingly modest financial situation, the trips raised a red flag in the Redditors mind.
The truth came to light when the Redditor received a letter from a collections agency, demanding payment of over $10,000 for a credit card they had never opened.
The user added, “A couple of weeks ago, I got a letter from a collection agency wanting to work out a payment plan for more than $10,000 for a credit card I never had. Through my own investigating, it became obvious either my mom or dad opened the account in my name last year.”
After some investigation, it became clear that their own parents were the culprits behind the fraud. They had not only opened a credit card in the Redditor’s name but also in the names of other siblings.
When confronted, the parents initially tried to deny their actions, but eventually, they admitted to the crime. The Reddit users parents claimed they had planned to make the payments in secret, but the financial burden became too much.
The parents advised their child to file for bankruptcy, but not before the user’s mom suggested allowing them to take out more credit cards.
“Their ‘advice’ to me was to file for bankruptcy, at which point my mom chimed in and said if I was going to do that, let them open up some more cards in my name first,” the user added.
The Aftermath and Community Reaction
This story has garnered significant attention online, with many urging the victim to take legal action against their parents.
“CALL THE POLICE – You’re the victim of identity theft, plain and simple, it doesn’t matter who did it or what your relationship is to them. They broke the law, now they have to face the consequences of their actions.” one commenter wrote.
“Your dad suggested that you file bankruptcy and your mom’s response was, “wait, let us run you further into debt first”. Both of your parents are fraudsters but your mom’s response is just sickening.” another person added. “Please call the police. Do not allow these people to ruin your financial future. They do not deserve your compassion now.”
This case serves as a stark reminder of the lengths some people will go to indulge in luxury, even at the expense of their own children’s financial security. It also highlights the importance of monitoring your credit report regularly, no matter how much you trust those around you.