OT- Identity Theft

[Reese]

I was wondering if anyone has had this occur to them? My wallet was taken from my van on Thursday night (I didn't know until my Mom found it about 11:30 Friday morning in my driveway). The only things removed were things that had cash value (gift cards, gas card, change). So I thought it was probably kids and left it at that. My husband said I should cancel the credit card that was in it just in case they took my number(the card was still in my wallet when it was returned). When I phoned the card has been used in the middle of the night to fill up on gas. The police have said it was more than likely someone that I know since they returned the wallet. Now I'm worried that maybe it's someone that will take my numbers (SIN#, license, Health Card# were all in there and returned) and use them to steal my identity, since I wouldn't be reporting them stolen since they were returned and wouldn't think much about it.
I did file a police report when I found out the card had been used.

 

[Ted in Halifax]

It sounds to me like a common night time car theft, which is normally kids looking for cashables .... change, cds, GPS units. This happens everywhere. They usually aren't into identity theft. However, cancelling the credit cards may be wise, since a simple cell phone photo of both sides would be all that one would need ... why take the risk?

BTW I don't agree with the police, I highly doubt this was someone you know. A simple security camera at the pumps of the gas station would confirm this ....

 

[minnie mum]

NEVER carry the card with your SIN number in your wallet! That's just begging for trouble if your wallet is lost or stolen. I would definitely call your CC company ASAP, as well as phoning about your DL and Health Card. Better safe than sorry.

 

[dancin Disney style]

NEVER carry the card with your SIN number in your wallet! That's just begging for trouble if your wallet is lost or stolen. I would definitely call your CC company ASAP, as well as phoning about your DL and Health Card. Better safe than sorry.

Yep...make the calls. Notify all CC companies as well as OHIP and MOT. Call anyone that involves a card in your wallet.

 

[monkey30]

OK I wasnt going to post as I did not want to scare you, BUT this did happen to a friend, and it was someone she knew and she is still having problems as they sold her personal info and someone across Canada was getting credit in her name!!! But since she made a police report and watches her credit report and such it was stopped and they were caught right away!

So please be aware that all this can happen very quickly but they had a good end result because they knew what to do!

 

[Reese]

I'm just puzzled that they used the credit card and put it back in my wallet before putting it back in the driveway. I will phone Monday morning and talk to someone about my SIN and DL and contact OHIP.
I'm waiting to hear back from the credit card company about the address of the gas station because they only show the charge and name not the place. After I have that then the officer said he would see if they had cameras and go from there.

 

[Debbie]

You don't suppose one of your own kids might have taken the card/vehicle, do you? I had a 14 yo that did that. Well, he took the car, never thinking to fill it up. Took me AGES to figure out why we were getting lousy gas mileage. (He's my joy, now, though. )

 

[Ted in Halifax]

I didn't read that well enough. I didn't realize that they used a card and then put in back in the wallet. That sounds fishy!

 

[Reese]

I didn't read that well enough. I didn't realize that they used a card and then put in back in the wallet. That sounds fishy!

That's why the police said it sounds like it would be someone we know. I would prefer to find out it was someone we know than have it be a stranger that was clever enough to put everything back and keep the numbers to steal my identity with.
And they would have put the wallet in my driveway sometime between 8:30 and 11:30 in the morning because DH would have seen it when he left for work and came back or DD would have seen it on her way to the bus.

 

[Reese]

You don't suppose one of your own kids might have taken the card/vehicle, do you? I had a 14 yo that did that. Well, he took the car, never thinking to fill it up. Took me AGES to figure out why we were getting lousy gas mileage. (He's my joy, now, though. )

Nope definately not one of the kids. They were tucked up in bed all night , I was up half the night with sick little ones. And they would never do something like that.

 

[Reese]

OK I wasnt going to post as I did not want to scare you, BUT this did happen to a friend, and it was someone she knew and she is still having problems as they sold her personal info and someone across Canada was getting credit in her name!!! But since she made a police report and watches her credit report and such it was stopped and they were caught right away!

So please be aware that all this can happen very quickly but they had a good end result because they knew what to do!

That's what I was worried about. I guess I'll have to start ordering my credit report on a regular basis.

 

[ferris198]

Our identity was compromised.
A neighbour had used my name and address to get credit.
She had ordered new furniture from one of those rent to own places and had used me as a reference without my knowledge.
She had also used it to get credit elsewhere.