Author Topic: Identity Theft Question (Read 734 times)

Seagoon · « **on:** December 23, 2006, 08:28:22 PM »

Hi guys,

I wonder if I could get your help with an urgent question. My wife's handbag was just stolen as she was shopping at our local Foodlion (Merry Xmas, eh?)

I know about canceling credit cards and have just shut them all down, but how do we handle the possible/likely identity theft stuff as he wallet had her Social Security, Medical Insurance, Drivers Licenses, etc?

Also, any advice about securing our cars? I believe they snagged her keys and they now obviously know where we live...

- SEAGOON

FastFwd · « **Reply #1 on:** December 23, 2006, 08:31:57 PM »

Change all the locks on your doors.

Estes · « **Reply #2 on:** December 23, 2006, 08:35:34 PM »

car alarms?

nirvana · « **Reply #3 on:** December 23, 2006, 08:36:13 PM »

I'd imagine you could get new keys and have the locks and ignition cylinder re-keyed. This is obviously a rather expensive way to go about it. She probably had a house key on there so you probably want that re-keyed if anything, or just putting in a new assembly might be cheaper. Contact the police and report it if you haven't already. Other then that I wish you the best of luck and a merry Christmas.

rabbidrabbit · « **Reply #4 on:** December 23, 2006, 08:54:39 PM »

How do we know this is the real Seagoon?...

Shamus · « **Reply #5 on:** December 23, 2006, 09:11:22 PM »

You might want to contact the three main credit reporting agencies and put a fraud alert on the accounts, not foolproof but it helps, keep in mind if you do this she may have problems opening new credit lines for a year or so.

shamus

BOOMHOWR · « **Reply #6 on:** December 23, 2006, 09:13:08 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by rabbidrabbit
How do we know this is the real Seagoon?...

This is an easy one, I think he's the real seagoon as he has not claimed to have tracked down the robbers and killed and or critically wounded them.

Ripsnort · « **Reply #7 on:** December 23, 2006, 09:30:59 PM »

Sorry to hear about this Seagoon. You can run free credit reports, up to twice a year I believe. You'll need to do this diligently from now on.

Also, shred your SS cards guys. If you need to provide a copy in the future for someone (like a job) just re-order it from the SS office with an SS-5 form.

You should NEVER carry your SS card on your person.

Seagoon · « **Reply #8 on:** December 23, 2006, 10:44:11 PM »

Hi Guys,

Don't worry, I just checked, and I'm me. I have a mole on the bottom of my foot no one else knows about.

Anyway, thanks for the advice!

Well good news, turns out her keys were in her pocket and not her bag, so all they got was a little bit of Cash and every bit of plastic and paper information she owned.

We got confirmation that it was stolen, and not somehow lost in that whoever stole it used a credit card to fill up their car 15 minutes after snagging the handbag, from the price ($30.00) I'm figuring they got about 10 gallons of premium (I can't even remember the last time I filled my car with premium). We've canceled the major cards and the store cards, but we can't contact our health insurance until Tuesday, so I hope they aren't running out to get major surgery as I type this.

I was a little disappointed that all the police did was take her name and social security over the phone. My wife eyeballed the woman who she thinks stole it (the woman followed her around for a little while) but the police weren't interested.

I'll be contacting the credit bureaus to put on a freeze asap but I'm concerned about the long term effects of having a felon impersonating my wife. A friend of ours had his briefcase stolen a couple of years ago, and now he has to carry around several letters 24x7 because there are so many arrest warrants out for "him" related to every form of fraud you can imagine. He commented that there is no such thing as a 'routine' speeding stop for him anymore, and although they'll tell you otherwise, the credit companies treat him like he has the plague."

- SEAGOON

rpm · « **Reply #9 on:** December 24, 2006, 12:06:20 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Ripsnort
Also, shred your SS cards guys. If you need to provide a copy in the future for someone (like a job) just re-order it from the SS office with an SS-5 form.

Bad, BAD advice Rip.

You should keep your card in a secure place, but not destroy it. It can be a nightmare trying to replace a SS card. It takes 5-6 months to get them around here.

You also can not be hired for a job without one. An employer is required to fill out an INS form before employment and must see the card to do so. A photocopy or verification letter is not proof of SS.

I deal with this every day. Kid comes in, applies for a job and we hire him. Come time to fill out the employee files, no SS card, he lost it. Sorry kid, no job. By the time he finally gets his new card from SSA the job is long gone.

Keep your SS card with your important family documents where you will not lose it.

Tarmac · « **Reply #10 on:** December 24, 2006, 01:29:35 AM »

My high school recently lost a hard drive with all of the alumni information on it, including SS numbers. After some embarrassing media coverage, they provided us with credit monitoring through Lifelock.com. They put fraud alerts on your ID through the credit bureaus and renew them (a fraud alert only lasts 90 days), they cancel your pre-approved credit card offers, and they do some other stuff in terms of monitoring.

It has a fee, but it may be worth it for a while until you're reasonably sure that nothing's going to happen with her identity. At very least, I'd do as much of their stuff as possible, like cancelling credit offers, ordering credit reports (one free one per year), and put the fraud alerts on your accounts.

Some phone numbers for placing fraud alerts and learning more (taken from the resource page a HS alum set up):

http://www.troyathensvoice.com/faq.html

Holden McGroin · « **Reply #11 on:** December 24, 2006, 02:43:42 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by rpm
You also can not be hired for a job without one. An employer is required to fill out an INS form before employment and must see the card to do so. A photocopy or verification letter is not proof of SS.

Hmmm... not for identification...

nirvana · « **Reply #12 on:** December 24, 2006, 03:41:07 AM »

Taxes are used for social security...

majic · « **Reply #13 on:** December 24, 2006, 05:21:21 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Holden McGroin

Hmmm... not for identification...

The immigration verification form specifically lists the Social Security card.

(Basically, it has 2 lists on the back and the employer has to see one type from each list. The first list has things like drivers license or state ID, the second has the social security card and, IIRC, the only other common alternative is the birth certificate.)

I'm not sure if state laws on this vary (as the immigration form itself is a federal document), but I don't have to see a Social Security card, but usually do see it as most folks don't have their birth certificates handy.

Excel1 · « **Reply #14 on:** December 24, 2006, 05:24:43 AM »

Sometimes the non- requirement of adequate id can cause as big a headache as the problems that can happen if your id falls in to the wrong hands.

On two separate occasions when I was younger I was summonsed to appear in court on drink driving charges when two people that were probably a mate of a mate of a mate.. ( I never found out who they were) gave the cops my name instead of their own when they were done for drink driving.

Clearing my name was a major hassle.

Back in those days NZ didn't have a photo id drivers licence and it wasn't compulsory to carry your drivers license with you anyway, so the traffic cops often had no way of verifying a persons identity before they released them after processing and charging them, so passing yourself of as someone else wasn't that difficult.

Photo id licences put an end to the abuse. If you haven’t got it on you, or your mug doesn't match the mug shot on the licence, the cops won’t let you go until they verify who you are.