As if I needed more on my plate... hubby's CC numbers stolen, used

[CornField]

When I went online to make a car payment, I notice that we are missing lots of money (our checking account is in the negative). I start looking around and there are lots of charges from online sex and dating services. One had charged us $50 and then credited that money back seven days later. I phoned them first.

Someone was using my hubby's name, card number and all of our contact information to set up fraudulent accounts -- accounts being used to grab personal information from others.

GREAT!

[bleedingheart]

1. Oh for crying out loud that is bad...

sorry to hear this...

[oregonjen]

2. I'm sorry! We had a cc number used and $4000 worth of stuff bought

I hadn't even used the cc, hadn't even taken the cc out of the envelope and called the phone number to activate it. Someone stole the number and used it. All of a sudden I got a monthly statement with $4000 worth of purchases! Sheesh! Luckily, they didn't fault me and ate the $4000 and tried to trace who used it. Report it quickly and then take all the necessary steps!

[LynzM]

3. Oh man, that sucks...

Time to start ordering Credit Reports, call you bank, put a stop on the cards, get recent statements, and start tracking stuff down. Sorry to hear you have to go through this, it really sucks :hug:

[DulceDecorum]

4. Identity theft is TERRIBLE

The money may be the least of your problems.
The Social Security number is what is worrying me.
http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/idtheft.htm

http://www.idtheftcenter.org/index.shtml

[CornField]

6. The ironic part? We filed bankruptcy at the end of Feb.

What thief in his/her right mind would want our identities?

[DulceDecorum]

11. A New Zealander with cerebral palsy?

In need of a clean passport?

[LiberalEsto]

5. Call the Secret Service

They are the agency assigned to investigate credit card ID theft. It happened to my husband a few years ago. Their investigation of his and many other complaints led to the bust of SS employes in NYC.

Secret Service is part of the Treasury Dept.

Phone # in Washington DC is 202-435-5100. That's their field office. They can refer you to your regional field office.

[datasuspect]

7. get off the grid

so much electronic communication (which includes electronic transmittal of account information) is damn insecure.

was this result of using credit cards for online transactions?

[CornField]

8. Not sure.

This was his Visa debit card (comes right out of our bank account). We use them almost exclusively these days. We pay bills, buy gas at the pump, use them at the grocery store and, yeah, we use them online as well.

[datasuspect]

9. i know all these companies say it is safe

but you should NEVER use credit cards for online transactions . . .

but once you give anybody that credit card info (even at the store) you just never know where it will end up . . .

cash is anonymous . . .

[Heddi]

10. I had my stuff stolen. DO THESE THINGS NOW

(if you already haven't)

1) Call the 3 Credit Agencies (sorry, don't know their names or have their numbers, but a quick google search can help you). Have them list yours AND your husband's SS#'s as stolen and used fraudulently. THey'll put a 'flag' on your account and if anyone tries to get credit in your name (even you), they have to actually speak with you over the phone before it's granted. It can be a pain in the arse if YOU are trying to get a credit card or whatever, but can really save you hassle down the road

2) Change ALLLLLLLL of your account numbers for everything. Even things you don't think they have access to.

3) Notify your local police department. What happened to you was fraud and theft (fraud on the part of the businesses who set up the accounts, theft from your account). They may not be able to really help you, but they can take a police report and that can be VITAL if your credit ends up having charge-offs and such because of these people.

4) Notify the Social Security office that your SS# was used fraudulently, and notify the Driver's License Office in your area. In addition to using your name for credit, these people COULD be using your name for driver's licenses---if they get pulled over, the cops get YOUR information and YOU get the citation. Let them know your Identity was stolen and have them check that there's only one DL for you and your hubby.

Do a google search for "Identity Theft"--there are alot of resources. I spent about 4 days cancelling this and re-establishing that when my wallet went missing.

A month later, it turned up...I had dropped it at the grocery store :-/ Nothing was stolen (even the $35 in cash I had in my wallet was still there). No cards were used...but I feel alot better knowing that there was no way they COULD have used them had someone tried

[welshTerrier2]

12. Federal Trade Commission: READ THIS !!!

http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft/