I may be the victim of identity fraud - HELP!
By dmillman
@dmillman (2273)
United States
February 19, 2007 5:13pm CST
Ysterday, being Sunday, I picked up a message from a call I had missed. The call was the NY Times. They wanted to know if my paper had been delivered and if there was a problem to call them. I didn't order the NY Times, so I immediately called them back. They couldn't help me because they're just the company that handles the delivery of the NY Times and some other papers. They gave me the number to the NY Time office, and I called right away. At one point, I asked them how it was paid for. They said credit card. I asked is it was credit card ending in 1234, and they said yes. I knew it, I just knew it.
A few months ago there was a problem at the Boston Globe. I get their Sunday paper (for the coupons). I heard on the news that there was a problem and someone(s) may have got their hands on the credit card numbers of some subscribers. I called their special number, and yup, I was one of those people. The Globe paid for my credit reports now. They told me to contact the credit card company ASAP, and then notify the credit reporting agencies.
I called the credit card company right away. I had them put a special alert on the account since my account may have been compromised. Then I called the credit agencies and had a fraud alert placed on my accounts so that any time there is a request to open a new account (credit card, bank, etc.) they would call me to see if I was the person that made the request.
Since that happened I've been very careful, so when this happened, I called the credit card company and asked them to change my credit card number or cancel the account - I just don't want this card being used anymore. Luckily they were able to do that for me. The CSR there went through recent charges to confirm that I did it, and only one of them was mine - UGH!I just feel so violated. I mean, so far (knock on wood)it hasn't been too much. I really feel bad for people that get in worse situations. I just hope that I was able to nip it in the bud, and it'll be over soon.
Has this ever happened to you? If so, what did you do? What happened? If it didn't happen to you, could you give me some ideas on how to be more vigilant?
2 people like this
4 responses
@trouble4u2avoid (2915)
• United States
20 Feb 07
That's horrible. My sister didn't have any fradulent charges on her account but her bank did freeze her account. She had to verify who she was and they issued her new cards. She was on the list of people who had shopped at Marshal and 2 other retailers. Similiar problem where someone got a hold of credit card numbers.
@dmillman (2273)
• United States
20 Feb 07
I had a problem with the cheking account once. It was in the early 90s. I got my statement in and looked at it immediately to see why I had got a bounced check notice and noticed a charge that I didn't recognize. I called the bank immediately to tell them. I had to go to the bank and fill out forms and such. They put that fraudulent money back in my account - thank God. The only thing that they didn't do, which I think they should have, was take care of the bounced check fees. I mean, they only bounced because of the fraudulent withdrawal, so it wasn't my fault. I think that may be different now, with all the worldwide spread of these situations. You need to be sooooo careful these days. It makes it tough to enjoy things sometimes.
My identify theft was do to the Boston Globe, not me. But I do hope that everyone takes care of their personal information.
@dmillman (2273)
• United States
22 Feb 07
UPDATE: Well, as if this wasn't enought to worry about, I started getting noticed of checks bouncing - thank God it was my error and not anything funky going on. I'll tell ya, that was the first thing that I thought of. Since I just got my bank statement in the mail the other day, I checked it out (since the bank was closed) and sure enough, I had transposed some numbers - UGH. All that I can say is that I'm glad it was my error, and not the doings of an identity theft! I'll tell ya, if it weren't for bad luck, I wouldn't have any luck at all.
@western_valleygirl (1363)
• United States
22 Feb 07
This has happened to me before, where my card, had been stolen, and there were charges being made that I did not have anything to do with. Also, I had lost my card before, so that was very annoying, because I knew that if I did not cancel it, someone was going to be charging away. I had to close the card, and also call my other creditor for the card that had been stolen, over the internet, and they wanted me to fill out forms and verify everything. I did. But, I just don't know for certain how they used it, because I had not used it in months. I believe that whoever did it, was very good at it, because it was bought in Euros, and my card is here in the U.S., so how they managed it, I do not know. I just need to be more careful which websites I shop on. And, make sure that everything is secure.
1 person likes this
@dmillman (2273)
• United States
22 Feb 07
That's ironic, because every time I tell someone about it, they automatically assume that it was from the internet. You should see their faces when I tell them it's not. I didn't cancel the card though, I just got a new number and PIN number and such. Now if anything else goes through on my old card number, it won't go through. I'll show those theives!!! Sorry about what happened to you too.
@littlefranciscan (18327)
• United States
19 Feb 07
It could also be a sales pitch..sometimes they do this to get you to call them..so that they can offer you the times papers;)+
@dmillman (2273)
• United States
20 Feb 07
Unfortunately that wasn't the case. As I've already written, I was a victim of identify fraud. It wasn't a sales pitch. Just a little while ago I got an automated call from NY Times welcoming me. What a hoot!
@lilaclady (28206)
• Australia
19 Feb 07
It is so scary what could happen today with all this new technology and it is even a worry with the scams around trying to tempt you into things to try and trick you into giving more information, I often wonder if rich people know if they are being taken at times, little here a little there, people with not much money would notice but would they....
1 person likes this
@dmillman (2273)
• United States
20 Feb 07
I know. I mean, I only use ONE credit card for online purchases, so if hackers get it or something, it's only one of my cards. The guy at the credit card comapny actually said that was a great idea and that everyone should do it.
Now with this Stop & Shop problem in NH and MA, I might have another credit card problem if mine get compromised there, because I use a different credit card - UGH!
