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Identity theft

Posted By: Grandzilla on 2008-06-27
In Reply to: Identity theft -- never thought it could - happen to me!

So, somebody has your social security number.  Just wait until the IRS comes after you for not reporting the income from your second job, picking grapefruit in Florida.  Happened to a guy here.  Has cost bundles in legal fees to straighten it out.  Reader's Digest had a story once on a man who couldn't retire because SS showed he was still working in another state.  It's not necessarily illegal aliens either. People who can't pass criminal background checks use stolen identity to get legitimate jobs, or they get arrested and give your ID and you can't pass a background check.  Identity theft is a real mess.  I don't think the penalties are harsh enough.  Shakespear said it.  He who steals my purse steals trash; but he who steals my good name takes that which little enriches him but makes me poor indeed.


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Have you ever been the victim of identity theft?

If this will help prevent identity theft, then I think it may have some good points.


I don't like the idea of electronic tracking. I read the part of the bill dealing with the Real ID and it said the "machine-readable element" is "to be determined". That is a little ominous. I think visual inspection should be enough. I really don't think electronic tracking is justified.


Identity theft -- never thought it could

Yesterday, I got a call from QVC.  I had ordered a GPS system for my hubby and QVC called to say they were unable to complete processing of my order because my credit card wouldn't get through.  QVC said the address I gave them as the billing address did not match the billing address of my credit card.  I asked the rep to hold on while I pulled my credit card account up on line.  When I did, I saw that my address and phone number had been changed to somewhere in TX (I live in PA).  I told QVC I would have to call them back.  I immediately called the credit card company.  They pulled up my account and said that yes my address had been changed just a few days ago.  When I asked how, they couldn't tell me.  They did not know if it was done on-line or by telephone.  This, I don't understand.  If someone called in to change it, shouldn't that be documented?  Furthermore, if it was changed on-line, wouldn't there be a computer trail? 


At any rate, it was changed, and my cc company tried to contact me to verify it by calling the new phone number given.  (Makes no sense).  Having received no answer, they sent a letter to me, which I have yet to get.  One day after changing my address, someone made a $10 on-line purchase with cc account, which went through.  Immediately following that, a $4500 on-line purchase was attempted to be put through.  This one the cc company did not allow (thank God for small miracles). 


After having all of this explained to me, I was then transferred to an Identity Theft Specialist, who would help me close this account and reopen another one as well as put into action security alerts for me.  For the next 7 years, my credit report will be flagged as a "fraud alert", meaning that if anyone tries to open a new account in my name, the lender will have go through extensive verification to confirm it's me.  I'm told this will not affect my credit score. 


I also had to file a report with my local police, which I doubt will accomplish anything.  Local police are not trained in the same manner as state police, and I don't see how they have any jurisdiction over this since the offender is out of state.  We will see.


I did, however, write down the address and the phone number that my account was changed to.  My husband called the number last night from his cell phone and no one answered.  He left a message stating he was looking for "my name" and to please return his call to "his number".  They immediately called back, but when my husband answered, they said nothing.  They called back again later that night and did the same thing. 


Here's the real kicker, when I called QVC back to give them a different credit card (which I immediately verified all of my credit cards after this incident), the lady asked if I knew what happened.  I told her that apparently I was a victim of identity theft.  She said that's what she sort of figured had happened especially with the credit card company I had.  I said what do you mean and she proceeds to tell me that there have been a lot of "account takeovers" with this particular company and that it was determined to be an "inside job".  This left me feeling less than secure about setting up a new account with that company.  It also makes me wonder if that's why they weren't able to trace the original address change.  My husband says as soon as the new account is set up, we're going to cash in our reward points and pay off the balance and close the account. 


Fortunately, this cc company has 0% identity theft liability, so we will not be responsible for the charges that did go through.  However, the bigger concern here is that this person obviously has enough personal information about me to set up new accounts without my knowledge; hence, the reason for the fraud alerts on my credit report. 


I am so furious, if I ever get my hands on this person, I'll likely wring his neck!  My husband and I have worked hard all our lives to have good credit and some skuzbucket thinks he can just come along and take it.  I don't think so.  I intend to pursue this fully.  If it is an "inside job", I will make sure that this credit card company does something about its current employee background checks. 


So, take a minute today and call your credit companies or go on-line and check to make sure that noone has changed your address and phone number.


i understand about identity theft, but
friends of friends cannot see your info/pics/posts UNLESS you set you security settings that way. It can be as private or as public as you want it to be. i am very cautious but i think FB is great!
This will make identity theft easier. Our DMV had the
computers stolen, and so whoever did it had access to personal information. Now they will have all the personal information they need without having to dig for it. Homeland Security and other government agencies have had computers stolen.

As far as electronic tracking, not long ago there was a push to have micro chips implanted in all school kids.


Mistaken identity?
Maybe some other couple was causing trouble or shoplifting and he confused you with them.
I agree...something as serious as an identity change is different (sm)
I can totally understand someone who has had a gender change wanting to be called something different. And maybe the name OP's friend was given is just offensive to him...nonetheless people who have called you one name all your life will have a hard time always reminding themselves of what you want to be called now, especially when they have other things to think about beside stepping on someone's apparently fragile toes.
ID Theft
My neighbor had this done by someone that he worked with in the personnel department. They were stealing SS numbers off of worker files. Nice huh? You can't trust anybody anymore
theft?
Theft is being charged $13 for a plate of spaghetti. I know, we have the choice of staying home, etc, etc. I cook for them all the time and yes, they eat everything not nailed down!
It is a form of theft
There is something wrong with these people who feel they have to clear the table of sugar and/or sweetener and especially the ones who decide to complain to the manager at the end of a meal that they had no trouble eating just to get the meal for free or at least discounted. My niece waited tables in a fairly nice steak house chain and she said it happened more times than you could imagine.

And then they gloat about it later! They should be ashamed.

I just wanted to tell you if you never got the Love and Theft CD you simply sm
must. I literally played this for months on end and could not listen to anything else. It is wonderful. One song he states he was in a hotel that was so crappy he called room service and ordered a room!  Typical Dylan. Give a listen if you have never  heard it.    
Cancel the ID theft protection on your credit cards.
If you didn’t pay for it, you’re not liable for it.
I hope you got her arrested for credit-card theft
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