A different sort of challege.

[sadie147]

Re: A different sort of challege.

OMG, I think I'm going to flip. Someone is opening additional phone lines on my phone and charging them to my bank account.

[Miss Phode]

Re: A different sort of challege.

I am. I was just on the phone with my cellular service. I got a text message that said "thanks for adding a new line to your account". So I called to say I didn't add a new line, and I checked my bank account and there were charges on my account for this service I didn't add. My husband is on the phone with the bank now to freeze the account and try to get things resolved. I wonder what else they may have gotten a hold of.

[Miss Phode]

Re: A different sort of challege.

Does anyone else know what I need to do? I've got the phone numbers for Experian, Trans Union, Equifax and I'm calling to ask if there is any additional unauthorized activity. What else?

[boonie stomper]

Re: A different sort of challege.

How about Law Enforcement?

[sadie147]

Re: A different sort of challege.

I've started up our challenge in the 'challenges' forum for anyone interesting in joining!

http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.c...532#post597532



Miss phode, I would call teh police as well!

[Lisa M]

Re: A different sort of challege.

OH NO, Miss Phode!!!!!! That's just so heart breaking! I sure hope it's a BIG mistake on the billing department (small hope here, but it's at least some kind of hope) with the phone company.

Credit speaking...I just read on-line somewhere that you can ask for your credit reports be "frozen" and only opened unless you request them. It's recommended for people with credit fruad. It's a pain in the butt, from what I understand, to get authorized for your own purchases/credit, but then again it's supposed to take just a phone call to undo the "freezing".

Your bank should provide you with fraud protection on your account as well as covering their own a$$ets with insurance from the FDIC. I would talk to them about finding out how to get your funds back, if at all possible because the transactions were not authorized by you via signature or verbal.

[boonie stomper]

Re: A different sort of challege.

MP, Certainly hoping your other accounts haven't been compromised, if indeed your cell # was hijacked. Cell phone and pager activation crooks are running as rampant as the cell phoe thieves that need their stolen phones activated illegally, so probably this is the only attack on your accounts. If it is there have probably been similar attacks which your PD may be aware of and a crime ring they will be tracking down. Keeping fingers crossed for you!

I know it's terribly agonizing not knowing for sure just how much info of yours who has and what they might do with it; even losing a purse is a nightmare.... worry about house keys, license, checkbook, addresses and phone numbers, debit and credit cards, even "important" papers that may have been lost add up to insanity very quickly.

This is why I:
keep copies of critical documents I carry in a safe place at home

shred anything before trashing that bears personal info

discard shreddings in multiple places so repiecing is unlikely

don't do online questionnaires with personal info except name, address & phone (no DOB, no account#'s, no SSN, etc)

don't "verify" info requests even if they look/sound legit by responding to the requestee directly (& don't use the links or #'s they provide you to do so either)

and more....

keep up-to-date by:
http://www.fraudwatchinternational.com
http://www.scambusters.org/
http://www.usdoj.gov/criminal/fraud/idtheft.html
There are many useful tools for you and the kids to use at these sites!!!!

[Miss Phode]

Re: A different sort of challege.

OK, this most certainly sucks, but it's not as bad as it could have been. It looks like we have everything under control. I've already spent over half of the work day trying to fix this mess. I will report back later with the story.

Thanks guys! (((hugs)))

[sadie147]

Re: A different sort of challege.

Having an actual paper shredder is a huge asset. I saw a piece on the news where a guy, as a test, ripped up a credit card application into a bunch of small pieces, then taped it all back together with scotch tape. he filled it out and sent it in. and it was processed, no questions asked! That scared the crap out of me!

[boonie stomper]

Re: A different sort of challege.

Having an actual paper shredder is a huge asset. I saw a piece on the news where a guy, as a test, ripped up a credit card application into a bunch of small pieces, then taped it all back together with scotch tape. he filled it out and sent it in. and it was processed, no questions asked! That scared the crap out of me!

The thief who tries this with me will need to collect shreddings from more than on trash bag, on more than one day, and then from inside of wadded up envelopes and other trash. (oops - perhaps that's too much info to post online if such a thief might be lurking!)

Edit - oh, yeah, I forgot - I don't have my name or address available anywhere in a forum I post in.

[Atkid]

Re: A different sort of challege.

I am bad about destroying everything to the smallest bit, but after reading this stuff I will pull out the paper shredded and start shredding everything. I have been a victim of credit card theft where as I paid to have my transmission fixed and two days later someone bought a $500.00 telescope over the phone and then had someone else pick it up. Of course the store didn't ask for identifcation when it was picked up. The creditcard company ate the amount but it ticks me off that the secretary at the transmission place could get away with it, I just know it was her.

[boonie stomper]

Re: A different sort of challege.

Some businesses still do transactions with outdated equipment such as machines that reveal the whole card number and other info when they print the receipt, or they type the info in a computer, some even do impression slips and toss the carbon in the trash. I know of one place that even keeps everything on a handwritten receipt book! Watch out for these. And when you go to a new doctor, your insurance card should have an ID that isn't your SSN, and they can enter 000-00-0000 in their computer prompt for your SSN when entering the patient data. Do you trust someone else's computer security with your personal info? But that's where all the paper copy goes these days...

[staziaw]

Re: A different sort of challege.

Miss Phode -- I'm sorry to hear that you got nailed . . . definitely call the police. Having a report of the crime will help to get the information off of your credit reports, should you need to. You should also call your phone provider and tell them that they are not to add/delete/change any information on your account without calling you first -- say at your home number? Change your passwords as well.

Sorry, cupcake -- I know this is challenging!

XO
Stacy