They Lost my Social Security Number
By Amber
@AmbiePam (85597)
United States
April 27, 2009 4:34pm CST
Oh boy. I got a letter today (april 27th) dated April 22nd, informing me that a laptop belonging to a DHS worker was stolen out of her car. On that laptop were the social security numbers and bank account records of a lot of people who are in use of DHS services (in my state this includes health care as well as those who receive food stamps). They say this theft occured on April 2nd.
First, why did it take 20 days for them to get the letter out? DHS is two miles from where I live. Second, what the heck was the worker doing to have her laptop in her car? If she was taking it home, did she stop somewhere along the way and get groceries? Is that when they stole it?
And the "funniest" part of it all is that they tell me I am at a low risk for repercussions of the theft. Now I'm not panicked. I may have to pay some money to get a credit report, or somehow find an actual free report with no strings attached to make sure no one is using my info, but how am I at a low risk?
I'm trying to let it just roll off my back. I have to have all my stuff moved to my new apartment (same complex, but new and better apartment). What do you think about them saying it is a low risk? They have no idea who took the laptop. Have any of you ever experienced identity theft?
5 people like this
17 responses
@carpenter5 (6782)
• United States
27 Apr 09
Chances are the laptop's files are security coded, meaning no one can open them without a password. My husband brings his laptop home and all of his files that have to do with the kiddos at school are password protected. They most likely aren't interested in the files anyway, but rather the laptop for resale value.
My husband often has to travel for work and has had to leave his laptop in the state vehicle. He doesn't like to do it, but often is necessary for one reason or another. It could have been as simple as her having to stop and use the restroom on the way home from work. You're certainly not going to take all of your things out. I wonder how much damage was done to her vehicle.
2 people like this
@smileonstar (4007)
• United States
27 Apr 09
HI, how are you doing? well, everytime i hear people saying about lost SSN or Stole by someone, it totally scare me. I used to have someone have the same name and almost the same SSN took in my credit file. I never find out until I bought another car. Then they told me that my credit is super low, and I was like What? this guy try to explain to me about what i owe and what I didn't owe. I said, well all my bills are on time and I dont owe this and that... how come my name has this and that. He asked to see my SSN card. I showed to him and he said, this is not you. I said what not me. he said on this credit report has the same name but a little different number. He finally show the whole thing to me... God, my heart was almost stop. I had to call many place to find out. Then call the credit company (each one of them) to correct my credit and make sure no more mistake. It took me almost 6 months to get everything in order. So you have to be careful with everything... if you could, you should sign up for credit watch and they will monitor your credit at all time. And when everything is back in order then you call to cancel it. Good luck
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
28 Apr 09
I am sorry to hear of your problem. I hope this link helps it is for the government one per year free credit report. You should also put a fraud alert of each of the three credit report site that does not cost anything.
https://www.annualcreditreport.com/cra/index.jsp
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
28 Apr 09
LOL--nuts you beat me to it...was going to suggest that website..I got it from Suzi Orman's site
1 person likes this
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
27 Apr 09
They're probably saying low risk to make everyone feel better about the theft, themselves included. I think though that they should really just be honest as it does seem like it'd be a higher risk, with personal information from their clients stored on this laptop. I would definitely be wanting to know more about what they know in regards to the theft. Of course I can understand where they might think it was just someone wanting a laptop, but if they find the goldmine of information on it, then they may just find a way to use that information against others. I guess what I'm trying to say is, that even if something is encrypted, password protected, and coded, it doesn't mean it fool proof. I hope you get an answer about this soon. I definitely didn't mean to alarm you, I know that it might sound as if I am trying to, but the first step is to remain calm. What about freecreditreport.com?
2 people like this
@AmbiePam (85597)
• United States
27 Apr 09
Apparently freecreditreport.com isn't all free. I have to sign up with something called Triple Advantage, and then the report is free. You didn't alarm me though, I want to be aware of what the situation could turn in to.
Funny enough, my credit card company lowered my limit (I just have one). They said with the financial crisis they are going to lower everyone's limit with an income under such and such. So they gave me access to check my credit report with one particular agency because they had lowered it (I don't know why). So as far as that company goes, nothing suspicious has happened so far. But I heard that different companies sometimes have conflicting credit reports.
1 person likes this
@sweetashoney (3594)
• United States
28 Apr 09
I sorry to hear that something like this could happen. The first thing that I would do is to call the places that you have credit cards, bank accounts etc. and report this. They would cancel yours and give you another card. Even the bank will close your account out and open another one for you, just to be on the safe side. I would even check with the Social security office, they might would assign you another number. Like some of the others here have said, even if this person can't get to the information some one else might can.
1 person likes this
I think I'll talk to my bank about it like you mentioned.@sweetashoney (3594)
• United States
28 Apr 09
I wouldn't hurt, like the saying goes, better save than sorry.
Your right all they need is your name and social Security number. They can apply for any credit card they want to.
1 person likes this
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
27 Apr 09
Wow, I would totally be flipping out right about now. I mean what is it for them to say about how low the threat is. I bet if it was them they wouldn't be saying that. I also think they are saying it so others won't get so upset and maybe even think of suing if that is a possibility. And those who stole it might want to keep a low profile so they would possibly choose accounts that wouldn't get as much notice to them. I would be asking them to see if they could pay for a credit check so that you can keep an eye on your credit and identity never know how long they might wait to do something. Just when your feeling safe..maybe,Sorry to maybe scare you but it is never good to feel safe when you have information out there floating that others can have access to that can damage your life. It can take years to recover from a identity theft if it happens. So far knock on wood I haven't and I hope it stays that way..
1 person likes this
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
28 Apr 09
I would say a year at least in case they save it for when times aren't so hot to be able to use it since they might think that it is being closely monitored right now.
1 person likes this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
30 Apr 09
once the telephone company called to say there was fraud on several accounts, that someone had hacked into their main computer my phone number was on the list, but to rest assured that they caught the person fast enough and not to worry there would be no charges on my accout,
I was really scared that there would be charges but there really wasn\t any
1 person likes this
@LittleMel (8742)
• Canada
3 May 09
low risk is a risk
in terms of identity you never know who can use it and how
so they can't say it's low risk
because they can use your identity for practically anything from draining your bank to psychological threat even go further depends on how psycho the criminals are
I don't know what DHS is but any data work related shouldn't be taken outside the office because they are confidential
how is it that she took this laptop with her in the car?
how is she even allowed to carry a laptop full of confidential information, around?
even if you can get the authority to make sure nobody can use your info
your identity is already out there
even if they catch the person, there is no telling what he has done to it
he could easily copies the information and sells it before he gets caught
I never experience it, but there have been spammers using my real name, my e-mail address to send junk. They don't have access to my email inbox, at least that's what yahoo said, but they can't stop this person putting my email address as sender so I have to put disclaimer on my blog or else these spammers can give my business a bad image
@AmbiePam (85597)
• United States
3 May 09
You're right LittleMel. And I think if it were them, they wouldn't consider it low risk. DHS stands for Department of Human Services. It's of course a government agency, and branches are in every state, and different cities throughout the U.S.. Our local DHS has been in our local news lately for how poorly run it is. Every DHS is in charge of figuring out who is qualified for food stamps, healthcare (for either those on welfare or disability), daycare support, welfare like I mentioned before, and child protection services. I'm sure there are other things they do, but I don't know them all.
I'm not sure if Canada has anything similar to DHS?
@Modestah (11179)
• United States
28 Apr 09
isn't that terrible! it is so anguishing to think that someone of obvious questionable character has access to your personal information. It is so violating.
We have had this scare twice, it was not with DHS but a federal system that was comprimised (dh is retired military)
1 person likes this
@KarenO52 (2950)
• United States
29 Apr 09
That worker should not have had the laptop in her car, how careless. I'd bet if it were their information, they would be worried, low risk or not. I once had a problem with the IRS thinking I was someone else, and getting a hold put on my mortgage. Luckily, our bank manager called and let me know about it, and I had to go down to the bank and bring identification to prove my identity. I also had a credit card number stolen once. It was someone in Russia who used my info to make long distance calls. I was lucky that time too, that the credit card company alerted me to the fraud and I was not charged. I had to get a new card though.
Congrats on your new apartment. I hope all goes well for you.
1 person likes this
@lilybug (21107)
• United States
28 Apr 09
Man that sucks. I would be kind of worried. If anyone was to try to steal my identity they would be sh!t out of luck. My credit is not that good. I guess it could be worse though.
I hope nothing happens with it all, meaning the creep who stole the laptop does not use any information for anything.,
1 person likes this
@Opal26 (17679)
• United States
28 Apr 09
Hey Ambie~ Gee, that is just wonderful of them to help make
you feel more at ease! What was this worker doing taking that
kind of State information out of the State office to begin
with? As far as I know that kind of information in my State
would never be on a laptop and never be permitted to leave
the office! That is highly confidential information! Where I
go there are police guards and there is no way that any of the
workers could take that information out of the office. They
are on State computers that are PC, not laptops! That is really
strange that they would allow that type of information to be
so easily moved around so that something like that could happen!
1 person likes this
@clfdc1983 (30)
• China
28 Apr 09
I think this incident is very serious theft in our country,it seems there is no such things from happening again.In order to prevent such a thing happen,should take special measures to deal with it.
1 person likes this
@Shaun72 (15959)
• Palatka, Florida
28 Apr 09
That sounds awful. I hope that everything gets recovered. This lady should be in a lot of trouble. I mean keeping personal numbers on her laptap in her car to where it can be seen and stole. It sounds like all of this is her fault.
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
28 Apr 09
That does suck that you are only being informed of this now, boy real speedy, right? whiteheather mentioned one place to get a free credit report and YES it is free as that is how I got mine. I was able to get my credit report from the only place Suzi Orman, the financial "guru" ....here's her page that mentions it all and it has that link to the annual credit report site
http://www.suzeorman.com/igsbase/igstemplate.cfm?SRC=MD012&SRCN=aoedetails&GnavID=84&SnavID=20&TnavID=&AreasofExpertiseID=154
(Warning: NOT a referral link but to Suzi Orman's website about free credit reports)
1 person likes this
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
27 Apr 09
So far so good...I am also wondering what she was doing with it in her car....if she needed to take it home she should have locked it in the trunk....I don't know if it's low or high risk....I have no experience with a situation like this..but I would be worried as you are..and try to check out as much as I can!
1 person likes this
