Credit card fraud and credit reports

[PAULO]

I hope this hasn't happened to anyone else but somehow some low life individual used my ss# to obtain three store credit cards. This person has spent about 5 grand already and has a combined limit of 12 thousand on all of the cards. I have been in touch with the three credit reporting agencies and they all have been helpful in taking the necessary action to remove these inaccuracies from my credit. I have learned that you can have a fraud security alert added to your credit report which means that anyone granting you or someone impersonating you credit has to have actual consent from you. Unfortunately this only lasts for 90 days, but I guess you could restart it at that time. It only took me about 5 minutes over the phone. You can also add a fraud victim statement which means that credit grantors need actual voice consent from you over the phone. This stays on your credit report for seven years. I was also surprised at how many different ways my name was spelled on my report and how many wrong former addresses were listed. I don't have the paper in front of me but I will post the three credit agencies 800 numbers later in case any of you all need them. Like I said I hope this hasn't happened to anyone else and hopefully this info will help prevent it from happening.

 

[Bigsaint]

We have been seeing this alot at work lately. Interesting part is that most of the complainants (victims) did not use the internet to purchase items.



Word of caution that we provide, despite the internet claims... if you purchase goods on the net, use only one card and set that card aside for internet purchases only. If you use the card to purchase items in a store, get the carbon paper if they run it through the "old" way.



The mail is another source for the suspects. If you have had problems with lost bills, etc. , and have a mailbox, you might want to consider obtaining a P. O. Box, at least for the bills.



While I'm not yet sure how they get your info ( the last one I saw had the victim's name, address, SS# and mother's maiden name), use caution with the card as best as you can and look over your statements carefully. No doubt, a major inconvience for you and all I can say is that is you are not alone. Sorry to hear of your misfortune .



Scott W.

 

[PAULO]

Thanks Scott. I never purchase anything over the internet and probably never will. When I talked to the customer service reps at the credit reporting companies they all said that the adress that was given was one that I lived at almost 4 years ago.

 

[joel]

one other thing....

Saw or read this somewhere, but don't use one of those visa/mc debit cards to purchase things over the net or mail order. If that gets taken, it links directly to your checking account and you could lose money since it comes straight out of your account. Always use a true credit card.



As for shopping over the 'net, I've done a fair amount and as long as you are shopping from a reputable vendor and get the lock (IE) or key (netscape) symbol for a secure site, your info should be safe.

 

[The patriot]

I have someone in Arizona using my SS#.

For the time being, they arent obtaining any credit cards. I get my credit report yearly.

I found out through my health care provider.

Not much you can do about it. I hope theyre making good $$$ because theyre taxes are going to my SS#.

I was to the SS office, and it seems like a very low priority item to them. You know, the "well they arent ruining your credit, are they?" BS story.

I myself would like to do away with the SS#, and in fact the whole SS system and NOT get taxed on this. But this is a whole other disgussion... .

Eric

 

[RJOL]

About a year ago, some lowlife tried to use my credit card number to buy airline tickets on Southwest Airlines. Thanks to the airline calling me to verify the charge, I was able to get them to cancel the tickets, and I also cancelled the card and had another one reissued. I always verify every charge on my card, when the bill comes... If you don't, your asking for trouble...