FULTON, Ky. — A local woman says someone from Nigeria stole her identity, opened multiple accounts in her name and took out a big loan, all things she says she probably would've caught except she stayed in the dark for weeks because scammers managed to stop her mail.
The culprits used a free online change of address service known as "Updater, Inc." That website then forwarded the information to the postal service.
The local woman said the day after accounts were opened in her name and that loan was taken out, her mail started going to a stranger's house and then piling up at the post office.
When she finally tracked down more than a week's worth of mail, that's when she spotted her new banking accounts, a hefty loan and a wire transfer to Africa.
Debra Darnall is admittedly old fashioned.
"I pay all my bills by check," Darnall said.
She doesn't trust the Internet, so all of her important information is handled through her mailbox. That's why what happened a few weeks ago raised a big red flag.
"It seems odd, we ain't got any mail," Darnall said.
After six days of no mail, she went to the post office and discovered someone posing as her went online and asked the postal service to forward her mail to a different address. Her mail hadn't been going there but was piling up at the post office. So she took the stack home and that's when things got worse.
"When I seen that I knew they done got me," she said.
She had notification from the Pentagon Federal Credit Union that her new accounts were opened, her $3,000 loan was approved and discovered most of that money was wired to Africa right away.
"I've been a nervous wreck ever since," she said.
Scammers used her Social Security number and other information to take out the loan. Her husband Clifton thinks the culprits used a computer.
"Just makes me not want to get on computer, period. I just assume do all my business face to face," Clifton said.
Police told Debra she'd have to start all over.
"They told me I'd probably have to get a new Social Security number, told me to change my bank account soon, credit cards," Darnall said.
She said it was easy to get back her mail but feared saving her identity won't be as simple.
"I have been sleeping too good, thinking about it. They can ruin your life in no time," she said.
There's another Fulton family involved in this mess tonight. Those are the people who were set to receive Debra's mail. We spoke with them Thursday. They weren't aware of this, said they only got one piece of her mail and just turned it back in to the post office.
Now they're worried their identities might be compromised. Darnall believes the scammers just randomly selected them.
We reached out to the postal service, they had no comment.
Debra said that credit union told her she wouldn't have to pay but she's still worried the scammers may have used her social to take out other loans she's not even aware of.
The Fulton Police Chief said he couldn't comment at this time but did say his department is investigating this case.
