How to Disappear

[Flamingo]

Most people who use tactics such as this eventually find out that you can run but you can't hide. Reminds me of the John List murder case which took place back in the 1970s in New Jersey. He murdered his family, was able to disappear successfully for quite a while but a new woman or person in his life suspected something as it is always difficult to try to hide something about one's past...his published photo did not help either around the same time and he was turned in. Can you imagine running all that time from either creditors or law enforcement always looking over your shoulder? One would have to change SS numbers, IDs, dump family/friends, constantly lie through your teeth, change appearance and even fingerprints...good grief...is it worth it?

[backtoschool]

Most people who use tactics such as this eventually find out that you can run but you can't hide. Reminds me of the John List murder case which took place back in the 1970s in New Jersey. He murdered his family, was able to disappear successfully for quite a while but a new woman or person in his life suspected something as it is always difficult to try to hide something about one's past...his published photo did not help either around the same time and he was turned in. Can you imagine running all that time from either creditors or law enforcement always looking over your shoulder? One would have to change SS numbers, IDs, dump family/friends, constantly lie through your teeth, change appearance and even fingerprints...good grief...is it worth it?

I totally agree with you Flamingo. I don't understand the point of hiding like this. It accomplishes nothing that filing bankruptcy can't accomplish, and filing bankruptcy allows you to keep your friends and family (if you want to) and to take a deep breath and stop running.

In this day and age where everything we do on the web is traceable, where our cell phones tell everyone exactly where we are at any given time, (even if they are disposable pre-pay cellphones....) where much of our past has been archived on the web by our well meaning past schools and jobs, and where meaningful professional employment expects us to be connected and have a public "feed", I don't see the point of hiding, nor do I think hiding will work.

[tigergem]

Can you imagine running all that time from either creditors or law enforcement always looking over your shoulder? One would have to change SS numbers, IDs, dump family/friends, constantly lie through your teeth, change appearance and even fingerprints...good grief...is it worth it?

Just goes to show exactly what you don't know about the reasons or the process ROFL

[backtoschool]

Just goes to show exactly what you don't know about the reasons or the process ROFL

Not sure what is so "hilarious" in Flamingo's post, that you are rolling around on the floor laughing. In order to disappear in the way described in this thread you would have to already be independently wealthy (since you will not be able to get meaningful employment without ID, local bank accounts, an address, a public persona, etc....) or willing to pick coconuts and live in a grass hut in the bowels of the third world somewhere.

I have to agree with Flamingo, why bother? I guess if you are part of some CIA intrigue, or you are medically and neurologically paranoid, you might find a reason to disappear like this, but for most of us, bankruptcy is a better solution.

[tigergem]

Like I said... just goes to show exactly what you don't know. (shrug) Don't "get it". I don't care.

[flyinbroke]

Along these line, if you open a personal bank account, is that activity automatically reported to the credit bureaus? ...if so, would that action negate any of the benefits of opening a bank acct out-of-state.

(I see many recommending this to help avoid bank levy's, that's why I ask)

Last one I tried, a local CU, ran ChexSystems. ING Electric Orange ran a credit check, because a line of credit is required to open checking (I was rejected.)

I have six or seven bank accounts, most have one CC or car loan, or something else tied to them. I have one account with insurance only, no loans or CCs. One account has nothing, but this is on the ChexSystem.

If you are career military, your radar is pretty muddy too. You move every 2-3 years and I have about 15 addresses tied to me.

[MSbklawyer]

but for most of us, bankruptcy is a better solution.

Absolutely. But there are non-dischargeable debts, x wives, taxes, prosecutors and other nasties that make going off the grid an option.

I hear you can live an ok life selling T shirts in Key West.

[Flamingo]

Just goes to show exactly what you don't know about the reasons or the process ROFL

Yep, my life was never that bad that I had to run and hide from anything but the process for one to do so involves running from one's background by constantly changing addresses, among a myriad of other things. If one has the time and resources to do that, they have the time and resources to face reality so why go through all the running away? Eventually past events or happenings catch up with everyone in today's world so the process would have to be very complicated and expensive to totally disappear. Again, is all that worth it especially to run from creditors? Always trying to dodge the bullet? There have been many postings in this forum of people trying to run from creditors and the creditors tracking them down and they posted wringing their hands asking others on here what to do. I am glad you find that hilarious because I and others certainly would not...some people just have to run from themselves because they can't face reality or handle it.

[backtoschool]

Yep, my life was never that bad that I had to run and hide from anything but the process for one to do so involves running from one's background by constantly changing addresses, among a myriad of other things. If one has the time and resources to do that, they have the time and resources to face reality so why go through all the running away? Eventually past events or happenings catch up with everyone in today's world so the process would have to be very complicated and expensive to totally disappear. Again, is all that worth it especially to run from creditors? Always trying to dodge the bullet? There have been many postings in this forum of people trying to run from creditors and the creditors tracking them down and they posted wringing their hands asking others on here what to do. I am glad you find that hilarious because I and others certainly would not...some people just have to run from themselves because they can't face reality or handle it.

Again, I totally agree with Flamingo on this. In this age of data mining and the internet, it is almost impossible to truly disappear. And in many of the examples listed above, it is illegal. Running from child support is a crime. Avoiding taxes is also a crime, etc. I just do not see how turning oneself into a fugitive from justice is the way to build a promising future.

I think all of us who filed for bankruptcy, at some point before we filed, fantasized about starting a new life as someone else, someone without all the debt and problems. But for most of us, we realized that we were indeed fantasizing and that in reality you cannot remove all of the breadcrumb trail that leads to you.

[tigergem]

Dear clueless pair. I filed bankruptcy. So how exactly do you think I am running from creditors... or anything for that matter? Furthermore, the insinuation that I am doing anything illegal, or that anyone who chooses to be more or less... off the grid... so to speak... is doing anything illegal... is absolutely ludicrous. I am not avoiding paying any obligations... except to the extent having filed bankruptcy permits me legally to do so. I am not a fugitive and YOU know NOTHING.

[backtoschool]

Dear clueless pair. I filed bankruptcy. So how exactly do you think I am running from creditors... or anything for that matter? Furthermore, the insinuation that I am doing anything illegal, or that anyone who chooses to be more or less... off the grid... so to speak... is doing anything illegal... is absolutely ludicrous. I am not avoiding paying any obligations... except to the extent having filed bankruptcy permits me legally to do so. I am not a fugitive and YOU know NOTHING.

In my cosmology, you are not the center of the universe tigergem. My comments were addressed to the general topic of the thread, not to your personal reasons for hiding. The only accusation I might have implied in my posts, is to accuse you of giving bad advice. I do not know your personal circumstances, nor do I care to know them. I simply wanted to provide a counterpoint to the paranoid and silly suggestions posted in this thread.

Since I am not a CIA operative, or a fugitive from justice, I am sure I am somewhat "clueless" about the myriad ways one can hide from reality. I have no problem with my lack of knowledge. I do know however, that engaging in behavior that makes one have a similar behavior profile to a domestic terrorist on the lam, is not advisable, and will result in closer scrutiny of behavior by government authorities, etc than the original evasive behavior was hoping to avoid in the first place.

[BrokeIn2010]

I do it cause of safety. I've had people from the online-world actually offer money up for my real world location, stumble on one of my clients and harass them, try to get my wife deported. For me it's not about hiding from bills or the law-- bring 'em on. It's about personal and family safety.

[tigergem]

The only accusation I might have implied in my posts, is to accuse you of giving bad advice....I simply wanted to provide a counterpoint to the paranoid and silly suggestions posted in this thread.

I didn't give any advice about it lol. And to judge it as silly and paranoid is to make a broad assumption without knowing the reason... which is none of your business.

Since I am not a CIA operative, or a fugitive from justice, I am sure I am somewhat "clueless" about the myriad ways one can hide from reality. I have no problem with my lack of knowledge. I do know however, that engaging in behavior that makes one have a similar behavior profile to a domestic terrorist on the lam, is not advisable, and will result in closer scrutiny of behavior by government authorities, etc than the original evasive behavior was hoping to avoid in the first place.

Again, the assumption and (bad) judgment call that somebody must be a fugitive from justice or hiding from the government in the first place in order to have want or need for this information.

Ordinarily, I would say that I hope you never find out the truth of the circumstance that would lead to such measures. But you know what? I really can't think of a better person to wish it upon. I do believe you would gain a whole new appreciation for what is really "paranoid" and "silly".

[BrokeIn2010]

I didn't give any advice about it lol. And to judge it as silly and paranoid is to make a broad assumption without knowing the reason... which is none of your business.



Again, the assumption and (bad) judgment call that somebody must be a fugitive from justice or hiding from the government in the first place in order to have want or need for this information.

Ordinarily, I would say that I hope you never find out the truth of the circumstance that would lead to such measures. But you know what? I really can't think of a better person to wish it upon. I do believe you would gain a whole new appreciation for what is really "paranoid" and "silly".

Might be generational/cultural too.

We live in a culture (at least in the USA) where we're encouraged to be open and shared (ex: Facebook, MySpace, etc...). The current ideal seems to be: privacy = something to hide, and by extension anyone that values privacy must be up to something bad or illegal.

In reality our new "global community (or 'net-village) is making people unsafe and to open with their lives and information.

[HHM]

Okay, what was an otherwise tacitly entertaining thread has devolved, time to close.