ID theft
Moms View Message Board: General Discussion: Archive May 2006:
ID theft
Here's the problem....
My hubby and I are at home today. We receive a phone call from a store, verifing my hubby. Apparently someone was in the store, writing a check with all our personal information on it. It was a check not from our bank, but a different bank. The manager refused the check (since I am claiming it is not us).
So what we know is there are a couple of men, shopping with a checkbook, that has all my information on it, minus account number.
I have called my bank, the other bank. My account shows no bad purchases, the other bank does not have an account link to either of our socials.
I have called the 3 credit agencies to issue a 90 day fraud alert.
So what else do I do?
What are the scenerios here? The account number on the check didn't go through the stores system, which is why they called, so maybe it isn't even a real account.
I will be calling the FTC with this information tomorrow when they open.
Ideas, condolences, advice welcomed!
Sorry this is happening Kaye!
Do they have a video camera? I would find out soon. It seems to be more of a consumer problem than yours though if it's not actually coming out of your critical personal info. Although it IS creepy. It's so sad that people feel they have the "right" to steal. It just kills me.
Let us know how it goes.
After receiving a W-2 opened in the mail and requesting to see all 3 reports we saw an attempted address change made on my hubby's social security#. We put a red flag on all 3 credit reports and requested that any attempts at using credit in our name be verified. We changed back our address and kept an eye on everything. That was over a year ago and nothing ever came through. There was a fraud number that we were told to call too. It sounds like you are taking all the right steps!
Good luck!
Yes, sounds like you have taken all the right steps. One final step - buy a shredder, so you can shred anything that has identifying information on it.
Here's a couple of links to good sites about identity fraud.
http://www.onguardonline.gov/index.html
http://101-identitytheft.com/checklist.htm
LOL Ginny, I did get one for Christmas. My hubby thought it was well past time. So I have been shreding everything (almost too much). So it does happen to be a little ironic that just when I start being careful this happens.
Ultimately all we know they have is our addy and phone number. They could have gotten that from anywhere, internet, phone book, etc. Short of having an unlisted number, there just isn't much we can do about it.
Just thought I would give an update.
Today the phone calls started rolling in. So far we know 4 checks that were cashed. 3 of the businesses were very kind and explained what we needed to do. The other one (safeway) was just down right rude about it. Next time they call I believe the phrase that will come out of my hubby's mouth will be something like..."if you would use your security measures then this wouldn't of happened, if you want to keep taking bad checks, help yourself, but don't expect me to pay for them". UGH! Two of the companies gave us lots of info, we now have the account number, the work phone listed (lol it is a law office that has many commercials), and the check numbers. There are at least 20 unaccounted for checks. The worst news is they also have his drivers license number.
The other big development is we are pretty sure what happened. We got a letter from the bank where the checks are from. Apparently they had a computer stolen during transit and information from a mortage inquiry was on that computer (from 2003). This makes so much sense, as to why that bank, and why just hubby's name and not ours, all of our accounts are joint. This one mortgage inquiry was via a work move and they got info directly from work.
Anyway, so on Monday I have new phone calls to make, police reports to notarize and mail. Crazy craxy.
The other good news is, it is a MUCH bigger deal than just us. So I feel confident that maybe the feds will actually investigate and solve this.
Bummer, Kaye. And Kaye, if it were me, I'd send a letter to Safeway's Regional Office with a copy of the police report and the letter from the bank.
Here's why. About 20 years ago I had a check bounce at a supermarket here. I just hadn't paid proper attention to the timing between a deposit and writing the check, and then went on vacation for two weeks. When I returned and read the letter, I immediately went to the store and covered the check and bounce fee in cash. But I didn't make sure they updated their records. About 8 years ago I applied for a check cashing card at a local store in the same chain, and was told they couldn't issue a check cashing card because my record showed a bounced check. So that bad check could follow you at Safeway unless you get their records straightened out.
And, I wonder if the reason the Safeway person was so rude is that they didn't follow procedures (obviously) and this bad check is going to go on someone's records for causing a loss to Safeway.
I recently got a letter from my bank saying that they had had a data loss and as a precaution were issuing new ATM cards to everyone whose data might have been affected - with the new card in the letter. So I had to scramble to change card numbers at a couple of places where I do automatic payments through my debit card.
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