Identity Theft (they finally got me)

[Jim1392]

I'm probably one of the most careful person in the world with my personal information but somehow they got me. I shred everything and check my banking accounts twice a day, once in the morning, and again in the evening. Well I went to my mail box today and found 2 letters from Sun Trust thanking me for opening up two savings accounts. I immediately called the bank and they confirmed they were opened in my name. They referred me to their fraud department where I filed a report. Then I went to Equifax and TransUnion and put a freeze on my credit reports. The strange part is I already had a freeze on Experian so I can't figure out how they opened these accounts. The lucky part for me was when I get mailings from banks and credit card companies I usually just tear them up and shred them not even bothering to open them and read them. So today I have no idea why I opened them up but I'm sure glad I did. You can bet from now on I'll be opening and reading everything before I shred it. The only thing now that really bothers me now is I know someone has ALL my personal information, SS, DOB, address and all.

 

[Muss Muggins]

Based upon the fact that you posted this under the same username in a state specific firearms forum, which lists your name and your hometown, if a client wanted to find you, and paid me, I could have the same information in about five minutes. You’re not really that careful. Just based on a simple free public google search, I know your first and last name and the city you live in. You can verify it by searching yourself . .

 

[Onomea]

Muss, are you saying that allowing one's full name and address to be public knowledge sets up an identity theft risk in and of itself?

Aren't most people listed on internet white pages, or in tax records as owners of property, etc?

 

[Muss Muggins]

Muss, are you saying that allowing one's full name and address to be public knowledge sets up an identity theft risk in and of itself?

Aren't most people listed on internet white pages, or in tax records as owners of property, etc?

They are so listed. And when a supposedly anonymous internet forum username can be tracked to a real first and last name and a city of residence can be determined, you’re mine. There are several investigative databases that one can pay for, including TLO and IRB. You have to have a business reason to conduct a search, but crooks really don’t care about that once they’re in to the main frame. That’s one of the many tools I use to get the job done. I back bill the client for the cost of the search . . .

 

[Onomea]

But, what I'm saying is what does it matter that you can track the OP via his internet username back to his real name and address. How does that expose him any more to identity theft than anyone else whose name and address can be ascertained on the internet?

(I can see how if OP were bragging on the internet about the million bux in cash stuffed into his mattress it would be a danger...)

 

[Muss Muggins]

But, what I'm saying is what does it matter that you can track the OP via his internet username back to his real name and address. How does that expose him any more to identity theft than anyone else whose name and address can be ascertained on the internet?

(I can see how if OP were bragging on the internet about the million bux in cash stuffed into his mattress it would be a danger...)

It really doesn’t. I was just pointing out how easy it was for someone who wanted to do it to find the information. How you become a target isn’t my concern. If you want to pay me to find it, then we’re in business. But regardless, it’s out there. Just depends on how much you want to pay . . .

 

[Golphin]

My wife had the same thing happen with what is now Truist after the merger between BTT and Suntrust. Someone opened a savings and checking account. The bank took care of it and she went ahead and got Lifelock and has everything locked down now. I am thinking they have had some kind of breach to their files as she does have a account with Suntrust. Also it is crazy that someone can open accounts over the internet these days.

 

[bigwheelzip]

I've posted here recently how I got stung. The first step was they stole my mail and got lucky that a replacement bank card was in the mailbox. Their first use of my card was to pay an agency for my personal information, which they used to gain access to my bank account, which they drained.
The only good news is that the local police investigator I reported the crime to, latched onto the evidence like a pitbull and identified the four thieves, who were prosecuted and convicted by the Feds. Two of the convicted are sentenced and now in prison, the third is being mentally evaluated, and the fourth awaits sentencing.

 

[Onomea]

BWZ, was your bank account reimbursed due to FDIC coverage?

Re FDIC coverage: Maximize Your FDIC Insurance - Deposit Insurance | Ally Bank

 

[bigwheelzip]

BWZ, was your bank account reimbursed due to FDIC coverage?

The stolen funds were reimbursed eventually, after a couple months of the banks internal investigation, and the identification of the thieves. Don't know what type of policy the reimbursement fell under.

 

[biku324]

Just had to report fraudulent purchases on my credit union credit card. Glad I check transactions daily!

 

[hittman77]

All your personal information was already “out there”. Its out there and trusted to the custody of (among others) every single place or person you give it to for any reason.

Freezing your credit helped you ZERO. They didn’t access nor did they need your credit report to do what they did.

That being said ..... good job on being aware and diligent. Sorry you went through that but for the most part ALL of us have been through it or will be in due course.

 

[vt_shooter]

The bank has security camera images of the person that opened the account. They also may have a zerox copy of whatever fake government ID such as fake driver's license the person used to open the accounts. I wonder how much of that the bank will share with you, being that it's in your name. File a police report if you haven't already, you may need proof someone is running around perhaps getting arrested in your name.

 

[vt_shooter]

Just had to report fraudulent purchases on my credit union credit card. Glad I check transactions daily!

Both of my credit cards are set up to send a text message and an email to my phone every time a charge gets posted. I caught fraudulent use of a card a couple years within seconds of it being done, and called the vender and my card company. I don't think the thief got anything.

 

[bigwheelzip]

The bank has security camera images of the person that opened the account. They also may have a zerox copy of whatever fake government ID such as fake driver's license the person used to open the accounts. I wonder how much of that the bank will share with you, being that it's in your name. File a police report if you haven't already, you may need proof someone is running around perhaps getting arrested in your name.

In my case, the police were able to get willing cooperation from businesses very quickly, including photo/video evidence. They only needed to get a court order, which happened upon request.

 

[Golddollar]

Both of my credit cards are set up to send a text message and an email to my phone every time a charge gets posted.

Just a piece of advice. You have to go into the issuer's web site and affirmatively select to have these kind of notices sent to you. Years ago, I happened to make my regular check of my credit card entries and found somebody had made two purchases of airline tickets in Chile, South America. I had never been out of North America in my life, but somehow nobody at the issuer had a clue that something might have been wrong when somebody without my credit card in hand was able to make a significant charge in a place I had never been. Luckily I stumbled across this in a few days rather than a month when the bill would have come. The company did the necessary investigation when I complained and I got the charges removed.

It may seem like overkill to have each credit card report immediately when charges are made, but that seems to be the only way to head off fraudulant charges.

 

[Onomea]

The good news re fraudulent charges to your cc is that your max legal liability is $50, and many cards reduce that to zero. I'm more worried about the draining of one's bank accounts, like happened to BWZ...

 

[Cdog]

Several years ago during an ugly divorce I signed up for lifelock.

Over the years I've been warned about info turning up on the dark web a few times, advised on steps to take.

I hate hearing of this happening to anyone. It's worse than being burglarized.

 

[chief38]

Yup - I've had ID & CC theft happen more than once. If you use a computer, cell phone, ipad, etc. is almost inevitable. Monitor your profile on one of the three credit reporting agency's from time to time and check and report any unusual activity.

Even if you do everything right and are as careful as one can be, many of the major financial institutions (American Express, Visa, Smith Barney, etc.) get hacked all the time and they get all your info. There is not much you can do about that as you have zero control of their computer files.

Basically - be careful, monitor your information, report and abnormalities.

 

[Retired LTC USAR]

When they opened the accounts, they had to deposit some money. Did you get the funds when the accounts were closed?