Southern French Woman’s Identity Stolen: Living a Nightmare with Thousands in Fines and Anxiety

Victim of Identity Theft in the Finance Sector

A woman from the South of France, identified as Séphora, encountered a living nightmare when she became a victim of identity theft in the finance sector. Over the past two years, Séphora has been subjected to fines totaling over €10,000 for supposed misdemeanors she did not commit.

A Series of Unfortunate Fines

The ordeal began in November 2020, when Séphora received a fine for breaking Covid-19 lockdown rules in Pyrénées-Orientales. However, she had not been in the area at the time. Believing it to be an administrative error, she contested the fine, which was later canceled.

Unfortunately, the problem didn’t stop there. In the ensuing months, Séphora’s employer received notices asking for deductions of €375 from her wages. Perpignan’s public treasury made these requests on two occasions.

Discovering the Source of Unpaid Fines

Upon visiting the office to understand the situation and resolve the issue, Séphora was informed that she owed a total of €2,625 in fines for assorted offenses. One such fine was for missing an appointment for a vehicle control in Le Boulou. However, Séphora had never scheduled an appointment, didn’t own a car in Le Boulou, and was actually at work in Narbonne at the time.

Legal Assistance and a Mountain of Fines

Desiring legal assistance, Séphora reached out to a lawyer. Yet, she hadn’t heard back from them or from the public prosecutor or treasury – both of whom she had also contacted – at the time of publication.

The Ordeal Continues

The distressing situation didn’t cease there. Séphora continued to receive notices for contested fines, some of which were even deducted from her bank account. Most recently, she received a call from a bailiff concerning alleged non-payment of train tickets. Now, she must visit the public treasury in Toulouse to contest these fines.

An Exhausted and Anxious Victim

The embattled victim expressed her exhaustion and profound anxiety. “I am living in a real nightmare, without knowing when it will end,” she divulged to the local newspaper La Dépêche. “I don’t understand how the person doing this to me can look at themselves in the mirror. The harm they are doing to me is immeasurable.”

The identity theft Séphora experienced serves as a reminder for French residents to be diligent in protecting their personal information and staying vigilant regarding any potential fraudulent activities.