Identify theft

[MichelleVW]

Just got off with the credit card company and it seems that someone has been using my credit card!!!

They called me to verify some transactions and there was a charge of $400 to Macy's that I didn't make that went through and there was a charge of almost $2,000 that was declined!!! OMG!!!! How in the world does this happen????

I don't use this card very often at all...how can people be so dishonest???!!!

They asked me if I had any suspects???!!! Nope...this is scary!!

They asked me if I had filed a police report, I guess I should do that huh?

 

[Chattyaholic]

Sorry that happened to you, it happened to my DH a couple of months ago. One evening his credit card company left a message on our phone, for him to call the Fraud Early Warning Dept. so he called, and there was some suspicious activity on his card that they wanted to check on. There were several transactions he didn't make!! He couldn't understand how his card could be used when he hadn't lost it.

They told him to highlight all the charges on his next bill that weren't his. There were several from grocery stores and a Wal-Mart down by Detroit that weren't his, I think about $1200 worth.

On his next bill those charges had asterisks beside them and they were "pending investigation."

On his current bill those charges have been deleted.

He had to sign an affidavit (or whatever they're called) and have it notarized to send back to them, but that was it.

 

[ziggystardust]

thats awful. Feel good that the credit card company caught it though, otherwise you might have had a mighty big bill and a lot more frustration later down the line.

 

[Planogirl]

I would suggest also placing a security freeze on your credit reports. With one you would have to be contacted before a creditor could open new credit. If you call one bureau and have one placed, the other two will be contacted also.

This is a major bummer but all too common nowadays.

 

[alldiz]

it is scary....

besides my disney visa of course.....

i love american express......they will take charges
off bill first.....then investigate......

some cards want their money.....oh we'll refund ya later
peace
kerri

 

[MichelleVW]

I would suggest also placing a security freeze on your credit reports. With one you would have to be contacted before a creditor could open new credit. If you call one bureau and have one placed, the other two will be contacted also.

This is a major bummer but all too common nowadays.

I think I already have that because about a year ago I got something in the mail wanting me to verify my new acount which I hadn't started!!!!

I'm really glad they caught it, I'm pretty good about checking my transactions online, but with Christmas I hadn't been around the computer.

 

[Charade]

low lifes!!!

 

[keishashadow]

I think I already have that because about a year ago I got something in the mail wanting me to verify my new acount which I hadn't started!!!!

I'm really glad they caught it, I'm pretty good about checking my transactions online, but with Christmas I hadn't been around the computer.

It's called a fraud alert & it only lasts for 3 months according to rep from credit bureau.

I've had problems twice in 6 months (both times with CC that I typically only use for travel to WDW).

Once we were on DCL & it rejected in Nassau due to someone trying to use it in Spain for a large jewelry purchase. Glad I brought a back-up CC.

2nd time, 6 months later, "paranoid me" decided to make a small purchase before we left for next trip...just to make sure all was well. It too revealed that someone had signed up for a year pre-paid AOL & bought a very pricey snowboard. Had to have new card re-issued & overnighted so we could use it on vacation.

Certainly glad that the charges were either caught prior to or immediately removed from account once I made statement & filled out the affidavit.

It's my understanding that unless the card is physically "stolen"/leaves your possession, you don't need to fill out a police report.

When you get the new card, don't sign it...write "see photo ID" & be prepared to carry a DL to verify your identity.

BTW, report the incident to all 3 credit bureaus & you will be entitled to a free immediate pull of your record & a subsequent one a few months later to monitor.

Be prepared for the CC company to try & sell you a monitoring service too lol...easy to check your own statement each month for descrepencies.

 

[ducklite]

It's called a fraud alert & it only lasts for 3 months according to rep from credit bureau..

That's not correct. DH and I both have fraud alerts that have been on our reports for about five years now.

My identity was stolen. Fortunately it turns out the woman who "stole" it was only trying to obtain controlled prescription drugs by using my health insurance prescription benefits.

To make a long story short, nine time out of ten you know the person who stole your identity. It's usually someone you trust. In my case she had a key to my house I trusted her so much!

OP--You need to think about anyone that you know who might have either had access to your home or that card. Maybe the Avon lady who you charged your purchase with. The housecleaner. Your brother-in-law. The possibilities are pretty endless, and unfortunately statistically it will turn out to be someone you know. In my case she was a trusted friend, a college professor. Not someone you would typically think of as a drug addict.

Because you use the card so rarely, it's more likely that it was used by someone you know. Any cards that you don't carry with you should be kept in a locked safe, and the key should be in your possession.

Anne