Apparently someone (I suspect my sister or her ex-convict boyfriend) back in the U.S. is using my information to apply for bank accounts and so far one attempt to purchase a gun. They don’t have my social security number, but they’re using they my phone number pretty liberally on their applications and I’ve received several calls about it already. Unfortunately, it’s Florida, which has very lax laws in terms of gun background checks, but I have submitted a complaint with the police department in my county.
Just as a question, what happens if they are arrested and I’m asked to present some sort of testimony? Surely I don’t have to return to the U.S., but also how do I provide proof that it wasn’t me who applied for these things? Just tell them I’ve been in Japan for the past 5 years? Any advice is appreciated. Thank you!
10 comments
Goated
You may be contacted by investigators, and if you had nothing to do with it and can prove you were here the entire time, that should be the end of it.
If for some reason they want you in court, they can subpoena you, but it would be a huge hassle on their part and probably not worth it unless we’re talking like murder or something.
Keep records of everything. If you’re in contact with them, tell them to knock it off and stop using your phone number. It may be worth it to simply cancel your phone contract in Florida.
I’m not American nor do I know how things work for you but I have one suggestion for you :
Contact your embassy and ask them that exact question. They’ll know to answer this better than most people around here. They may advise you to get a lawyer too, but again, they’ll know better than us.
They can probably get you to appear via conference call. I used to work in the court system im Canada and people that were out of the country would regularly appear this way.
Okay. I had something maybe similar.
I sold a motorcycle before coming to Japan. The buyer never registered it to his name. Then it was stolen.
The thief was involved in some kind of other crime and ran from the police on the bike, that was registered to me.
The cops contacted my mom.
She made a few calls and after a few days got to talk to some higher level police officer who reassured her they were sure I was in Japan during this and they were sure I had nothing to do with it. So, from my experience the police can find out whether you were out of the country or not if they suspect you of a crime.
You can just tell them you were in Japan and if they want proof just give them 入出国記録 which is like the record of you entering and leaving Japan
As far as testimony goes, it can almost certainly be provided via phone or video conference. Anything that needs further investigation, proof, notarized statements, etc., this can all be accomplished through embassies or consulates. Also, all proof you need about your location is on the stamps in your passport. Plus a hundred other easy to provide things if more is asked for.
TL/DR: You will not need to go back to the states for anything. If they don’t already know you weren’t in the states (they do), you can prove it very easily.
>complicated in a crime
“Implicated”.
Since you have filed a complaint keep a copy and if anyone ask tell them that someone is misusing your details.
Also get proof that you have not left Japan to US in that time period.
This classic case of identity theft.
The burden of proof is on the investigation agencies that you are involved directly.
Minor detail, but how is that you still have a US phone number? (e.g., why not just cancel that contract, killing the phone number?)
Or are they using your phone number here?