Identity theft....change your name?

[NPloysa]

Saw a friend online who I hadn't see in a long time (a year). She lives in Texas and told me she was a victim of identity theft and is finally back on her feet financially since it happened.



She signed her email as a different first name and a similar named address but from aol and not hotmail. She never answered my question but thought I would ask you guys and girls.



Do identity theft victims change their names? Obviously the people can wipe you out financially but its not the witness protection program!?

 

[fest3er]

Originally posted by NPloysa
... Do identity theft victims change their names? Obviously the people can wipe you out financially but its not the witness protection program!?

Not necessarily. Someone or several ones stole my identity, but I caught it before it went too far. I set up a fraud block with all the major credit reporting agencies. That seems to have stopped it pretty well, but it's a royal PITA getting the 'stolen' stuff off my records.

N

 

[rrausch]

How do you go about setting up a fraud block?

 

[bighammer]

It was posted on here at one time. You call the major reporting agencies (Experian, TRW, etc. ) and tell them you may be a victim of identity theft.

 

[BNH4221]

I had a friend that had his identity stolen. Someone gave him a great idea:



Don't sign the back of your credit card. Instead write "See ID" (or CID). Most clerks will ask you for an ID such as a license.



It is a pain in the rump to haul out your license every time you make a credit card purchase but if your card gets stolen it might just prevent a fraudulent use.



He, too, used a credit flag on himself. Anytime someone wants to apply for a loan, apply for a credit card or make an unusually large purchase on a credit card, it flags the sale pending his personal approval. Again, a pain in the rump but better safe then sorry.



FWIW



Steve

 

[Hale on wheels]

I sign the back of my credit cards "check ID", and maybe 2% of the places I go actually ask to see it. Don't count on that to help much.

 

[rfoust]

I have see ID on the back of my cards and now find myself thanking the clerks that check my ID cause it is soooo dang rare. They all look at the card and see the HUGE ''SEE ID" on the back and just don't bother.

 

[Deezul1]

Good luck finding a clerk that cares. I was putting gas in my wifes car and she handed me her credit card and I gave it to the clerk for payment, no problem, except it has my wifes picture on it and she is way better lookin than me. They never even look at it.