Identity theft victim struggles to renew his license - WALB.com, Albany News, Weather, Sports

Identity theft victim struggles to renew his license

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By Stephen Abel - bio | email
Wayne Jenkins Wayne Jenkins
Lt. Tim Watkins Lt. Tim Watkins

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THOMAS COUNTY, GA (WALB) -

The State of Georgia ranked 2nd in the nation last year in the rate of identity theft complaints.

If you've ever been a victim, you know how aggravating it can be.

One Thomas County identity theft victim is having a heck of a time just trying to renew his driver's license.

Five years ago, Ochlocknee resident Wayne Jenkins tried to renew his license.

"They said no you can't renew your license. And I said why? And they said you got a DUI and I said I ain't got no damn DUI," said Jenkins.

Jenkins learned he was the victim of identity theft.

After the Department of Drivers services denied his request for a new license, he called the Thomas County Sheriff's Office.

"He contacted us because he could not get a driver's license back in 2008 stating that someone had been arrested in the state of Alabama for a DUI off a Tennessee driver's license," said Lt. Tim Watkins.

"He argued with them. The state of Alabama and the State of Tennessee. And they sent him a picture of the guy and it didn't look a thing like me," said Jenkins.

Lt. Watkins was successful in 2008 with helping Jenkins renew his license.

But when Jenkins tried this week to once again renew his license, he had a moment of deja vu.

"She kept looking at me and looking at the computers and I finally said well what is wrong? She said you got a DUI and I said I aint got no DUI," said Jenkins.

"Our office has spent two days with the Department of Drivers Services trying to clear up Mr. Jenkins situation. The Department of Driver's Services just refuses to acknowledge it's not him and issue him a license," said Lt. Watkins.

"One of them won't release my license because the other one won't release my license because the other one won't release my license," said Jenkins.

Lt. Watkins says the computers show Jenkins still owes the state of Tennessee a fine from a DUI he was never involved in.

"I don't think it's right to punish me for something somebody else has done. And living by myself, I have got to drive some," said Jenkins.

Lt. Watkins says the sheriff's office is going the extra mile to help Jenkins because he is the victim of identity fraud and they need to make sure he is taken care of.

Follow the link below to find more statistics on state and national identity theft.

http://www.ftc.gov/sentinel/reports/sentinel-annual-reports/sentinel-cy2012.pdf

 

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