Will Mellor has recalled the moment that thousands were moved through bank accounts using his name after a criminal gang stole his identity.
The 45-year-old actor, who is currently starring in Coronation Street, has said that his identity was taken after the criminals stalked his postman.
Speaking to Ralf Little, 41, on their Two Pints podcast, Will said that at least £10,000 was laundered using his name on fake bank accounts.
He only found out after capturing a man stealing his post, before chasing him down the street and after his car.
Will said: "It was only a year and a half ago. A lovely lady who lives opposite across the road said, 'I just want to let you know there’s been a strange person going into your mail box'."
Will added: “So I checked my CCTV and there’s this lad, he put his hand in my letterbox and took something out.
"He’s following the postman. They’ve robbed my identity and they’ve opened bank accounts in my name.”
The actor said that the problem was exasperated by him trying to convince the banks that he was the real Will Mellor and not a fraudster.
He went on: “Do you know what I had to go through to prove who I was?
“They could open the account online, but for me to prove who I was and go in and close the account I had to jump through hoops.”
Will said that the police were now investigating the gang, who had laundered thousands in cash.
He said: “There was like ten grand in one account. There was all that.
“So they’d been doing this for ages and I didn’t even know.”
The actor said that the fake accounts were eventually shut down and the money was recovered by the authorities.
*Coronation Street airs Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 7.30pm on ITV.
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