A Shocking Betrayal
Identity theft is one of the most frightening white-collar crimes, and in its own way can disrupt a victim's life as severely as violent crime. But it's a particularly terrible one when the culprit is a close family member. Bad enough when a stranger does it, but to have a family member ruin your credit before you've even had a chance to build it is a betrayal of trust that can shake one's mind to its foundations.
Worse, it can divide the family as other immediate and extended family feel they have to take sides. The victim may be pressured to remain silent and let it go, or worse be accused of making the whole thing up. If the culprit is the victim's parent, fifth-commandment/filial piety issues come into play, but victims often feel uncomfortable about even acknowledging the crime, let alone involving the criminal justice system, when other close relatives have wronged them.
Worse, it can divide the family as other immediate and extended family feel they have to take sides. The victim may be pressured to remain silent and let it go, or worse be accused of making the whole thing up. If the culprit is the victim's parent, fifth-commandment/filial piety issues come into play, but victims often feel uncomfortable about even acknowledging the crime, let alone involving the criminal justice system, when other close relatives have wronged them.