Not a major identity theft, but I had a credit card number stolen earlier last year. I caught it relatively early after only once charge (for an adult video chat service - wasn't mine, I swear ) that went through and two charges for cell phone equipment that were posted but hadn't completed. I caught it because I check my financial information almost every day on the web.

Based on where the theif set up the "ship to" addresses, I have a strong suspicion that the thief worked at a computer supply company I had ordered some parts from a couple weeks prior.

I now subscribe to the Equifax credit wactch. They send me an email if there's any new accounts opened up so at least I'll be able to catch it early. It's a little pricey IHMO but I justify it by being able to view my credit report and FICO score on a regular basis too.

https://www.econsumer.equifax.com/consumer/...r/landing.ehtml?^start=&orderSource=EHW&PP=P3

I just notciced the price went up again - I got it when it was a bit cheaper. Maybe one of the competitors offeres a similar, cheaper program?

 

FTC Website with lots of information on ID Theft: http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft/risk.htm

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by awWhHDayUm
[B]waaaaaaaaaaaitt hold up,

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by CanIplay
[B]

Thats what I thought, but one of the creditors said that if you have excellent credit, you can access your credit right away!

 

Unfortunately this is something I know quite a bit about since I was a victim of it in college. I had a roommate who stole my identity and set up two credit cards and a cell phone in my name and unsuccessfully applied for many others. I had good credit for being a 20 year old college student, but there really wasn't much in my history so I'm lucky that kept him from getting too much.

I don't remember what happened that tipped me off that he was doing all of this crap, but I remember when I confronted him about it he lied and claimed that he hadn't done any of it. I told him that I would find out all that he had done once I got the credit reports in the mail that were being mailed to my Dad's house back home. He then drove the 80 miles back to Tulsa and went to the post office the next day to put a hold on my mail thinking he could intercept the credit reports I was supposed to get. Problem is you can't put a hold on one person's mail, you can only do it for the whole household. Well any of you who have lived in a house for several years know that barely a day can go by without getting some kind of mail. When my Dad hadn't received any mail for five days he got suspicious and went to the post office where he found out what was going on. Apparently my roommate had used one of the credit cards that was in my name for ID. We got the local postmaster involved and they caught him redhanded but were too busy raising postal rates to ever do anything about it. I also went to the local police station to file charges, but the dipshit cops in that college town were too busy setting up speed traps to actually go after a felon. Next time you get pulled over for going 5 mph over the speed limit feel better in knowing that there IS something better that cop could be doing but it doesn't bring in the revenue that traffic tickets bring in. Sorry to go off on a tangent....

Once I got the credit reports I couldn't believe what I found. This was in April and he had been applying for credit cards in my name since the previous summer. I hadn't even been home the previous summer because I was touring the country with a drum & bugle corps. It was nice to know that while I was gone he was back home doing this crap. One credit report even had this loser listed as my spouse. I immediately called the companies that were listed by the accounts he had successfully opened and explained the situation. It's really not a big deal for you as long as you had no knowledge or part in opening these accounts. They mailed me affidavits that I had to have signed and notarized that said that I had no knowledge of these accounts. Once I mailed those back they are required by law to remove all mention of these accounts from my credit reports. I also put a fraud alert on my credit reports but I can safely say that did no good because I applied for financing while the alert was supposed to still be in effect and got no verification from the bank that it was really me. Still it's a good idea because it further removes any liability from you and can save you the headache of having to deal with this crap.

Once I mailed all of the affidavits back all of the negative stuff was removed from my credit report save one credit card from one credit report. No matter what I gave those dipshits at Equifax they wouldn't remove it. I had letters from the issuing bank mailed to them, faxes sent and they still have that on my credit report. I gave up fighting these morons because I was getting too frustrated and I just took the letter from Bank of America into the bank when I applied for my S2000 loan last year so they would know that bit of information was incorrect. Legally Equifax is supposed to remove it because it is false but I didn't feel like fighting them for it anymore after three months of doing it early last year. My advice to you is to get a copy of your credit report in six months or so and make sure all of this crap has been removed. If there's anything still on there that doesn't belong then you'll have to fight them like I did. I wish you better luck than I had.

Bottom line after my epic novel is that if you follow the right procedures this ordeal will have absolutely no long-term effect on your credit because all mention of it will be erased permanently. The law is on your side and the people I worked with that were the real victims of this fraud (the banks) were generally very helpful and made it much easier to get resolved than I ever thought it would have been. Good luck and I hope the police capture and actually decide to prosecute the bastards that did this.

Mark

 

Hey Mark,
Wow, that was long! I really appreciate you taking time to write all that, it helps me a lot since I do not know anyone personal this has happened to. After reading your post, I do find the situation more encouraging and hope I get this matter resolved quickly. I find it hard to believe that creditors are willing to just erase thousands and thousands of dollars from my record, but I will do anything necessary to prove my innocence. I do feel lucky I caught this early but don't sleep easy knowing that some jerk has all of my personal info and knows where I live. Anyhow, I'll keep you guys posted on this matter.

P.S. Did your friend end up maxing out the cards? Anything ever happen to this jerk, did you teach him a lesson or two?

 

If you didn't set up these accounts then the banks legally can't make you pay for the charges that have accrued. They weren't happy to find out it was a fraud when I called but they know the law and that I'm also a potential customer so no reason to make it difficult. Key thing is to call them immediately and get the fraud alert put on your credit reports. Then call the banks and tell them what happened so they can close the accounts and get the process started to get this removed from your records. I remember the affidavits they had me sign stated that I had no knowledge of these accounts and I gave no permission for the person who set them up to use my identity. It also cleared me of any liability of the amounts charged so ultimately the bank and cell phone company were the only victims. It still took a lot of my time and some money for notarization and other costs in getting it resolved.

I knew who did this to me so the banks told me they would go after him, though once he paid them back the money he owed them they didn't press any charges. When I went into the police station and filed a complaint I didn't get much more help. The cop came out to our apartment and talked to the guy where he admitted he did it but was real sorry. The idiot cop fell for it and decided not to go any further even though this wasn't the first or last time this guy did crap like this. He lost several friends out of this and I haven't talked to him since he moved out that year.

Also, one thing you should know is that you don't have to pay for your credit reports if you've been a victim of fraud. So get the credit reports ASAP and call the banks and you should have this resolved in the next few weeks. Good luck.

 

I was checking out the FTC site...

http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/scamsdesc.htm

Web Site Masquerades as Consumer Agency - The Better Business Bureau (BBB) system issued an international alert to advise consumers not to be misled by a web site that is masquerading as a consumer protection agency. The site, www.consumerprotectionagency.us, offers for a fee to file a consumer's complaint with the BBB and various government agencies. In truth, the site is a business, and it is not affiliated with the BBB. The site includes a form to file a complaint and pay $4.95 by credit card. "There is no need for consumers to use third parties or to pay a fee in order to file a complaint with the BBB," said Ken Hunter, president and CEO of the Council of Better Business Bureaus. In addition to the BBB, the consumerprotectionagency.us site indicates it will file complaints with the State Attorney General's office, the Federal Trade Commission and the U.S. Office of Consumer Affairs (a government office that was closed several years ago). Any complaints about consumerprotectionagency.us may be reported to the BBB using the online complaint form at www.bbb.org, or to the Federal Trade Commission via its web site at www.ftc.gov or phoning toll-free 1-877-382-4357. Read more...