This morning, I received a message saying BoA systems detected suspicious access to my checking account via my debit card number. And, by Jove, there had been. This is not the first time I've had my identity stolen, but this has to be the strangest application of ill-gotten booty or -- as Hawkeye Pierce would say -- ill-booten gotty that I've personally experienced.
Someone tried to pay a "TfL/LEZ Congestion Charge" citation (basically, a $295 ticket for driving in a low emissions zone) with my cracked card. I soon found out "TfL" stands for "Transport of London. " Yup, that London.
How mentally irregular does one have to be to pay a government fine with a stolen check card number? I'm guessing to track you down, the bobbies have such personal identifiers as your name, license number, address, etc. They know who you are. Plus, I looked this shit up: in order for the fine to be as high as the amount charged to my account, the ticket had to be seriously past due. According to the TfL website, the penalty amount for this infraction increases over the time the citation remains unpaid. If you are that irresponsible, why even go through the motions? I don't know what the ultimate penalty for avoidance is, but it can't be worse than that of international fraud.
Furthermore, don't be daffy. If you are going to steal my ID, take that shit to Chanel or Harrods. F the ticket, just have your car towed. Take a cab. It's on me, literally. Go berserk!
I suppose all's well that ends well, so I'm not all that bothered by this incident. The account was closed, and I got a new card. Thinking about it, I'm actually a bit struck by the irony of using a BoA account for this madness. Imagine me using a "Bank of England" checking account to pay a Fort Lee parking ticket.
The global village strikes again.
Or, maybe it's just turnabout for my mocking of electric cars.
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