elder ID Theft/ Fraud issue help

[hamlet81]

Im in Florida and Im actually trying to get some advice for my mother. A friend of my mothers wanted to use her credit to buy a place and give her money for the deal. She requested my mother's info (Voided check, SS, etc...). She stalled on the deal and it never fell through, ignoring calls. Now my mother discovered in her bank statements automated debits from her account. Apparently this lady took my mother's voided check and her info to lease equipment for her company. She actually forged my mother's signature and gave the voided check to the leasing company. The signature she gave looks nothing like my mother's real signature and they have the same first name. My mother obtained all the lease documents and even the check.
My question is what should she do?? I know this is a very serious thing, should she attempt to settle with the lady herself?? How serious is this situation for the lady?? This lady is wealthy, can my mother sue her??
FYI: This lady is a popular radio personality with a mortgage company in the community and she probably does this sort of thing a lot to unsupecting older people.

Thank you for your help,

J FLORIDA

[Debt Guy]

What you describe is a crime. Criminal activity should be reported to the police. The police will take a report and the DA will decide whether or not to file criminal charges.

If you mother has been damaged financially, she can file a civil lawsuit.

These are two very different actions with distinctly different results.

First question is: what does Mom want? Answer that question and you know what direction to go.

If Mom is not capable of dealing with this herself, she needs to hire an attorney to do it for her.