Identity Theft???

Theres a lot of credit card fraud here as well that they have brought out what they call "Chip and Pin".

When you purchase from a store, instead of signing your name, your credit card goes into a machine at the till where you key in 4 security numbers of your choice, and these numbers can be changed by yourself as many times as you wish.

When something like this happens it makes you more alert just in case theres a next time.

Oh, Tanya, what a nightmare.

OMG I have just now read this oh Tanya what a nightmare this is How can people be so sorry as to do something like that I know you want to go and kick someone's @ss and the frustration......ugh I hope you can get this all straightened out as qucikly as possiable.

I had my driver's license stolen several years ago, and in that state they made you use your SSN as your DL number. Fortunately the person did not open any credit accounts, but she did have several very embarrassing arrests, for shoplifting, assault and prostitution. I cannot believe no one caught it at the police station, because the woman was of a different race, and spelled my name wrong. I never thought much about it, but it may now affect my license to be a massage therapist. I could get it expunged if I had a wad of money to hire a lawyer, but I don't. I has been so long that it may not appear on a background check, but I can't be sure. Please make sure this person has not been arrested for anything while using your name, and you can probably do something about it now. I didn't know about it for 5 years, so I had little recourse.

I would also spend the time to call all the major credit bureaus. Don't assume that everything will be back to normal in 30 days. Keep checking up on them. I am so sorry that you have to go through this. It's my worst fear, personally.

Originally Posted by Deb25

I would also spend the time to call all the major credit bureaus. Don't assume that everything will be back to normal in 30 days. Keep checking up on them. I am so sorry that you have to go through this. It's my worst fear, personally.

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When you say credit bureaus, and this may be a dumb question, but do you mean the credit agencies like Equifax, Experian, and Trans Union or do you mean like credit companies, visa and mastercard for example? The fraud lady helping me yesterday and putting out all the alerts was with Experian. She forwards the alerts to the other 2.

Also I never thought about the arrest record OH MY GOSH what if there is something on that! I am going into nursing, I know that could potentially ruin that. I better check into it as well. Thank you for that, thats why I am glad I posted about this, I knew you all could think of things I wasn't right now. Thank you again!

Tanya, don't trust the lady at Experian to forward it. Call the other two companies personally. If she did and they have it - great. If she didn't feel like doing her job, it's your credit still in jeopardy. Credit cards don't check with all three bureaus - usually just one. So even if you have the alerts on one, she could still apply for and get credit if they only check one of the others...

Originally Posted by valanhb

Tanya, don't trust the lady at Experian to forward it. Call the other two companies personally. If she did and they have it - great. If she didn't feel like doing her job, it's your credit still in jeopardy. Credit cards don't check with all three bureaus - usually just one. So even if you have the alerts on one, she could still apply for and get credit if they only check one of the others...

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I just called Equifax, trying to get my report becasue the state attorneys office wants me to have copies of all my credit reports. The stupid lady there was not very understanding and acted like I was trying to get a free credit report. She puts me on hold after I explained all about Experian giving me a free report and putting the fraud alert on and comes back and says the only way I can get my report is to pay. I pay her for the report and what does it show, no fraud alerts on file. I have to call back talk to another unhelpful person who puts a fraud alert on and then tells me I would have gotten a free report had I put a fraud alert on before I paid I told her if I had been told that and if the ladt would have listened to me explain then that would have happened. Then I am trying to call Trans Union, they have no numbers listed that allow you to speak to a person they are all automated, I try to pay and pull the report online and they can't identify me and say I have to wait 7-10 days for a written reponse in the mail as to why they couldn't. I don't understand, why can't these people be a little understanding and helpful, its not like I asked for all this mess. It just feels like they arent taking it seriously at all. No one has even cared about trying to figure out WHO has done this. Even the state attorneys office tell me call them back when I have more info. This is the most frustrating thing I have ever had to deal with.

I don't even know why I am posting all this, am I giving to much information out? I hope not.

I've had this happen, too It royally s*cks!! I finally found out when I got a medical bill...for a gunshot wound!!!! I called social security and they came over to my house with Men in Black type guys in about an hour! Turns out someone had stolen my SS# and used it to do all sorts of things. It wasn't too difficult to get my credit wiped clean and they have insurance to cover this kind of fraud.

The worse one was when I was in the hospital with my daughter 2 years ago. I went out to dinner one night to get out of that place for a few hours and 2 days later (2 weeks before Christmans, btw) I went to get money from the ATM for food and...no money. And 2 weeks before there had been $3000!!! I called the bank and they said all my money was taken out and my CC w/ the same bank had been used to buy about $2000 worth of QVC crap, too. was also used to make a LOT of long distance phone calls worth about $300. 6 months later we discovered that a waitress at the restaurant we'd been to was swiping cards...AND DRIVER'S LICENSES!! It took them a YEAR to reimburse me the cash that was stolen. A YEAR! We had no Christmas, no food, no nothing. I was in the hospital and starving. My mom makes less than I do so she wasn't able to help much, either.

So I cried and prayed and prayed and cried...and ya know what? Pizzas and chicken and chinese and toys and sandwiches and stuffed animals and...well, basically everything we needed started showing up! Web designers from all over the world (all over Europe, China, Australia, NZ, Japan, South Africa, Brazil, Chile, All over the US, every continent!) were sending in money and cards and toys for my daughter and calling and having food delivered. I couldn't believe it!! The hospital said they'd never had so many emails and letters to any one child...and this is Loma Linda Children's hospital, where they do some very famous work with famous docs and famous kids.

So I'll say some prayers for ya and we'll see if we can't get this all to come out ok

Tanya..how aggrevating!!!

Katie

The numbers are:

Equifax: 1-800-525-6285
Experian (formerly TRW): 1-888-397-3742
Trans Union: 1-800-680-7289

Social Security Administration (fraud line):
1-800-269-0271

Don't forget to call Social Security! Before anyone tells talks you into paying for a report, tell them you are reporting fraud. Plus, you are allowed 1 free report a year from all of them.

PS...everyone should keep these numbers stored somewhere.

that sucks so bad i just got an email from my mother today that said something like watch when your in the stores using your credit card. people with camera cell phones are taking a picture of your credit card and using all your info. be careful for the 3 security numbers on the back too. once they get that it's really all over.. squirtle so sorry to hear about your mess.

Squirtle:

Boy, I really feel for you. I am glad you called the other 2 credit agencies, and I had a feeling that you were going to get the major run-around. I think that part is worse than having your identity stolen.

My dad and brother went through this due to a computer glitch, so to speak. They had the same name, and somewhere along the way, a person with my dad's SSN and my brother's birthdate was created. It was a huge mess to unravel, and nobody wanted to believe, even with evidence that made no sense right in their faces! Like, one thing I remember was my brother had a work history dating back to 1950, yet he wasn't born until 1965.

It was very

Originally Posted by Sweets

The numbers are:

Equifax: 1-800-525-6285
Experian (formerly TRW): 1-888-397-3742
Trans Union: 1-800-680-7289

Social Security Administration (fraud line):
1-800-269-0271

Don't forget to call Social Security! Before anyone tells talks you into paying for a report, tell them you are reporting fraud. Plus, you are allowed 1 free report a year from all of them.

PS...everyone should keep these numbers stored somewhere.

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that Trans Union number, I can't get to a person. Only if I have paid for a credit report, you have to enter a 9 digit number off the report for the call to go through the automated system. I tried everything I could think of to pass it and get a person, it doesn't work. I got experian and equifax ok, though I paid equifax. A detective is going to talk to me tonight about all this.
I agree everyone should keep these numbers handy. I have learned that really no one is going to help or protect you in this situation. Sadly, your on your own. I am going to be so careful with all of my information from now on. Lesson learned, the hard way. The one good thing is I checked the disputes online at Experian and they are all ready showing questionable status, at least they are moving on it

Well, looks like I join the ranks here. Someone is using my identity in Idaho. I have their name and phone number. Like Tanya, I have spent a large part of my afternoon chasing this down. If this happens to anyone, and the stats are it happens in every 3 out of 15 people in the United States. I now know what to do- First off call the credit card companies- this is their fraud alert numbers:

Equi-fax- 1-800-525-6285
Experian- 1-888-397-3742
Trans Union- 1-800-680-7289

Then you call the Federal Trade Commission 1-877-438-4338 and file with them
Then the police department...

I have the name and address of the person who has been using my identity. I can only hope it is a clerical error and not intention criminal activity-

I found out all this purely by accident waiting for a wire transfer from overseas-

OMG I am sorry this is happening to you MA and Tanya!

It happened to me last year - I had no idea my debit card was stolen when I was in Maryland - the person took it and used it in Philadelphia, Virginia, Maryland and DC! Thank goodness I caught it as soon as I got home and reported it and got my money back - and the bank checked the credit reports and it is okay (better check again to be sure though)

Oh MA I am sorry you are going through this also. They are still "investigating" my records. So far I have had to spend $18 in credit reports and have been even given the run around by the state attorneys office here. I have been trying to reach the detective on my case for 3 days No one wants to help and they all treat me like I did something wrong. I hope you have better luck than I in getting help with it. The thing I have learned is it is not going to help getting frustrated and angry. It doesnt change things. I was in tears at one point with the credit folks. But it doesn't help. I almost made myself sick over it. I also have the name and several addresses for the person using my credit here in my city. Even yesterday I received letters from places I have recently applied with, but I wasn't the one who did it.

I do have a question for you MA..... did you get in touch with a live person at Trans Union?