Identity Theft. How do they do this???

[i_got_a_mohawk]

Online, I only use my credit card, just gives a level of extra protection. I did have credit card fraud once, strage strange purchases, ~£100 of flowers (x2), 2 dating website subscriptions and a subscription to Soap Opera Digest...

The flowers and dating website stuff could have been part of a greater fraud attempt (on others), the Soap Opera Digest, I can't explain that!

 

[DWBass]

About 15 years ago, while visiting Atlantic City, bought a single cd from a music store. Next bill showed $400 in charges in the same store. I was ready to drive back and whip somebody's @$$! Bank took about 30 days to investigate and refund the charges. Crazy what folks will do. From installing readers on gas pumps, ATM's, etc. In fact there was a story about a reader being installed at a gas station that I usually go to. It had some wireless system sending info to someone staked out across the street.

 

[Stewie26]

I'm so paranoid about this I won't even comment here about how I conduct transactions.

My wife's backgound is in banking and finance. She is probably the most paranoid person I know when it comes to protecting your identity. Many years ago she bought a big heavy duty paper shreader that can almost eat tree limbs. She shreads anything and everything that has our name on it including junk mail, subscription magazine covers, etc. I use to tease her about being so paranoid. Now I am thinking, "I hate it when she is right"

 

[placedesjardins]

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that my wife's Social Security number was not in her purse so they did not get that. They did get her cell phone, drivers license, car and house keys
etc.

Name and DOB from the driver's license.

Get a new P.O. Box for your bills and switch credit card provider and use your new P.O. Box address for bills.

 

[placedesjardins]

Well that sucks. I also forget to mention that they got her check book but we have had no problems with our checking account.

Did you ever report this to the police, not just the credit card companies? Considering that it is a crime that is occurring in another state, it would be worth your while to talk to the local police and see if your "case" can be handled by a federal agency.


And your credit card used in the Florida restaurant, the waiter had a skimmer. It's the same thing as a credit card reader, but it just reads and stores the information from the magnetic strip. The waiter gets like $20 per credit card number stolen. That information is then used by a credit card ring. The waiter didn't use your credit card. The ring he sold it to used it.

 

[placedesjardins]

No...We do have LifeLock, but that had been in place for years.
Also, to answer the qustion about house keys being stolen, we did change all the door locks. That was expensive.

Just an FYI, it's cheaper to get a locksmith to switch out the cylinders.

 

[Simo98]

Anytime I hear the term "identity theft" I can't help but think of this:

 

[Stewie26]

Did you ever report this to the police, not just the credit card companies? Considering that it is a crime that is occurring in another state, it would be worth your while to talk to the local police and see if your "case" can be handled by a federal agency.
.

When her purse was stolen from Petco, the police came and made a report. When the credit cards were used with bogus charges we did not. The credit cards companies acted like no big deal, we will cover the charges. It did not sound like they were very interested in catching the theives.