Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To ask for advice or thoughts on how to move on from MILs theft/ identity fraud

56 replies

Justonedilemmamn · 03/01/2026 02:15

Name change so as not to out myself.

I can't go into too much detail as it will be outing but I can say that DHs mother did identity fraud and siphoned between 70k and 150k over approx 8 years from his bank account, and in such a way that he did not notice but felt very poor, iyswim as she was crafty and he was daft and trusting. She also got him to take out a loan larger than he needed and kept the rest. Anyway I can't go into more precise detail as I think sil is on here but that is the jist and it is absolutely true and I still find it shocking to say or write down and I have noone to talk about it with irl as it his business his family and I don't feel it's mine to discuss with friends.

It really harmed him financially and has deeply traumatised him as like anyone would he trusted his mother completely. His dad must have been in on it too as theyclearly lived way beyond the means of their salaries over that time. His brother minimised it and said he'd always been given a lot and he shouldn't mind helping out. There was no real apology or recognition of the harm done to him. Mil blamed it on drinking too much and said she would stop. She never has. She did take out a loan to repay the loan she got him to take but that was a fraction of what was taken overall.

I can't speak to his family as a result since this came to light. I tried for a while as it was just swept under the carpet but after a while I just couldn't. At the time of finding out i wanted to press charges but he understandably, couldn't. He has tried low contact and is having to be no contact now as he gets so distressed and triggered for a while after seeing them. He is having therapy which is helpful.

We have a big life event coming up that would usually be a family event with all invited. I just dont think I can bear the pain of watching him put a brave face on and suffer through trying to do right by them. I also don't think I can bear to have them there.

I feel so lost with this as I don't know how to support him to keep some kind of relationship going or to support him go no contact, whichever he wants. Or how to processes something I just don't understand how anyone could do this to their child. He is one of the kindest most loving people you could meet who sees the good in everyone and I feel so angry and protective of him. We earn equally and everything has worked out and we have bought our home etc but it has certainly made practicalities like that harder and been a difficult start for us but that isn't what I'm angriest about. It's that someone could do this to their own child and not pay every penny back and really take accountability.There seems to be no remorse. There was also a history of physical/ emotional abuse and intimidation of him from both parents so I suppose this is an extension of that?
So I wondered if anyone had any wise words on how to move on as I am really struggling particularly when I want to say look let's just completely cut them off there's no getting over this and we may as well be honest to others about why it is they aren't there at the upcoming big deal life event, as he has only told his best friend the truth of why he doesn't see them much. I think most of his friends probably think it's me that has driven the wedge which also makes me sad as this is not true.
Sorry for the ramble and thank you your thoughts in advance and also in case this sounds like hairy hands nonsense, I absolutely promise this is completely true but I really can't go into more detail and cant give any more info.

OP posts:
TomatoSandwiches · 03/01/2026 18:35

It sounds like ( and tell me if im way off here) that there might be a cultural element affecting your husbands stance on taking legal action?
Has he spoken to a solicitor at all?
What kind of ' repercussions ' are you expecting from them if they are blacklisted from this upcoming event?
I feel so sorry for you both being betrayed for so long and there seems to be no justice.

Justonedilemmamn · 03/01/2026 19:51

Hoppinggreen · 03/01/2026 15:03

I would never "move on" from this and would hate the fuckers until they died and beyond.
They have no place at any family events and if anyone questions it tell the truth

Thank you hopping! Now DH and I have talked about guest list for said event and they are categorically off it and we have decided to do the event in an alternative way as suggested up thread, I feel less anxious about it all too.

OP posts:
Justonedilemmamn · 03/01/2026 20:03

pikkumyy77 · 03/01/2026 15:31

I think the way I think about this is that he does need to capture some kind of agency here. Agency comes in many forms. For some it would be suing or bringing ehatvis hidden to light. But for others it might look different.

Your dh is very caught up in windy abstractions like foregiveness. I am sure it was taboo in his family for him to express anger or “willfullness” of any kind. So he has the feeling of a dog trained with a shock collar. As he gets close to the limit he feels fear in advance of the shock. He won’t go near the boundary for fear of the pain.

To the extent that he keeps returning to the relationship he is also doing and redoing hoping that his submission and avoidance will make him, in their eyes, a good boy worthy of love. One day, perhaps, they will recognize his forbearance and tearfully thank him.

Of course they never will . “The strong do as they will And the weak suffer as they must” is the family motto.

On a day to day level I think I would return power to him by saying, frankly “do what you want but with open eyes. Your forgiveness and your care for them are both indifferent to them. They don’t care about you the way you want and going to see them won’t change that. Do what you feel you must but recognize that you choose what you do. You won’t change their response.”

Amazing post, thank you for your thoughtfulness. I think you make excellent points that putting boundaries in is frightening for him. It's something I need to talk about with him - I love what you have written and will say it word for word when we talk next about it all.

OP posts:
Justonedilemmamn · 03/01/2026 20:04

PandorasBox7 · 03/01/2026 18:17

I find this sad because they have actually done something illegal to him. I hope he can come to terms with his parents doing this to him. My children mean the world to me and I would never try to steal from them. They are bad people imho.

Thank you - this is exactly how I feel, too.

OP posts:
Justonedilemmamn · 03/01/2026 20:09

TomatoSandwiches · 03/01/2026 18:35

It sounds like ( and tell me if im way off here) that there might be a cultural element affecting your husbands stance on taking legal action?
Has he spoken to a solicitor at all?
What kind of ' repercussions ' are you expecting from them if they are blacklisted from this upcoming event?
I feel so sorry for you both being betrayed for so long and there seems to be no justice.

Well I think in his view and his parents view 'family is family' said in a pat butcher voice. I don't think any particular repercussions would occur but I would certainly ask everyone attending to keep it off socials. Thank you for your kind words and it is galling that there is no justice - but maybe the justice is not really having them in our lives anymore which is a blessing. I dunno I think I'm reaching here but if something like this hadn't come to light both he and I would be dealing with all the other nightmare stuff that goes along with them.

OP posts:
Whyherewego · 03/01/2026 21:25

Justonedilemmamn · 03/01/2026 19:51

Thank you hopping! Now DH and I have talked about guest list for said event and they are categorically off it and we have decided to do the event in an alternative way as suggested up thread, I feel less anxious about it all too.

Great you have that decided and I hope the event is everything you and DH wish for

New posts on this thread. Refresh page