Identity theft

• Identity theft -- never thought it could - happen to me!
  • Identity theft - Grandzilla
    • Thanks, I feel so much better now - happen to me!
      • thanks for pointing out other variables - Linda F
  • ID Theft - MT
  • What I have done for years and it works - sm - allie
  • my sister did this to my mother - XanaX
    • I should hope she's out of the will - she already got her share!
  • here's what I do -- - and thanks for sharing.
  • Wow, whatta story...sm - so sorry for you
  • Scary! Thanks for sharing because - sf
    • I'm not sure if I can give the name - happen to me!
  • Here's what I do.... - sm

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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.

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.