How bad can ID theft get? Bad enough to force you to change your name, Social Security number and the name of your established business. That’s been the experience of Marcoos Tyrell, from Birmingham, Alabama.
Born Marcoos Thomas, Tyrell, now 38, started his own business when he was only 17. But in 2008, after 20 years of teaching piano classes through his business, The Thomas Keyboard Club, identity theft changed everything.
Tyrell learned of the ID theft the way many victims do: the bill collectors began calling. At first it was “just” credit card bills. Then it was traffic tickets. And then things got really bad.
“I later found out that others had bought four houses in my name—in Gadsden County, Florida, and Dothan and Montgomery, Alabama,” Tyrell said. “I’d never even been to those places.”
Tyrell finally hired an attorney who advised him of the drastic measures he’d have to take to separate himself from the debt, financial ruin and criminal activity that was taking over his life.
So, at 38, Marcoos Thomas became Marcoos Tyrell, and The Thomas Keyboard Club became Piano Lessons on Wheels. He said it’s been hard to get things back on track after running a business under one name for 20 years
“It was frustrating at first because I built Piano Lessons on Wheels under my old name, and I had put so much into it, and people didn’t know me as Marcoos Tyrell,” he said.
Tags: ID theft, Identity Theft, LifeLock promo code, Marcoos Thomas, Marcoos Tyrell, Piano Lessons on Wheels, The Thomas Keyboard Club
I cannot believe this happened! I’ve heard of people having one house bougt, but 4 houses is really, really bad! What’s really sad is he could have caught this sooner if he’d only reviewed his credit report!
I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I’m a piano teacher too, so I thought I would leave my first comment. I don’t know what to say except I hope his business grows, and that his ID theft problems are over. I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often, and am getting the kind of protection from LifeLock that I’m sure he wishes he had.
Barbara
wow. thumbs up from this reader. this is an interesting post and really points the need for LifeLock or something.
hello,
Thank you for the great quality of your website, every time i come here, i’m amazed by how far ID thieves will go!
I’m so glad I found this site…Keep up the good work I read a lot of blogs on a daily basis and for the most part, people lack substance but, I just wanted to make a quick comment to say GREAT blog. Thanks,
A definite great read…
That’s awful! He seems like the kind whose worked hard his whole life. I hope things go good for him in the new business.