Comments on: these people are SCUM

By: Erika

Erika — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 13:59:26 +0000

Hi! I was sent to your site by Janet (loveisblonde) because we are re-doing our tile floor. I haven’t gotten to that part yet because I had to comment that we had a funny photo-like charge on our Chase card too. I never thought to google it. I disputed the charge and closed the account, but I also contacted the site, who refunded the charge. So maybe it wasn’t the same sort of thing, but weird.

By: ChristineMM

ChristineMM — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 14:05:29 +0000

You should also call all three credit agencies and report you are a victim of “identity theft”. You can ask that a “fraud alert” be put on your account. That will also entitle you to get one free credit report from each agency. Do not pay for those reports as you are entitled to free ones.

My identity was stolen by a store cashier in 1999. That old data has been reused in many different ways from 1999 to 2007, including opening a commercial lease for a store in my name–something that doesn’t even show up on a credit report. I only found out about it when a lawyer pulled my credit file to try to collect past rent on the store from me and when he phoned me I informed him this was yet another incident of identity theft that I had not even known about. THe store was leased for nearly two years at the time I found out.

The police have informed me that when your data is stolen sometimes it is put onto lists that are then sold to criminals. Therefore new identity thiefs can start new action using your data at any time in the future. Wonderful. Not.

BTW sometimes when a credit card is stolen to test the account, small charges are made, like $3 or $5 at a gas station. When they find that your account is active they then may go on to make much larger purchases.

I found your post through the BlogHerAd link. I am new to the BlogHerAd network.

ChristineMM’s latest blog post: Three More Awakening Experiences

By: Amanda

Amanda — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 06:13:41 +0000

I felt so accomplished when I finally learned my credit card number by heart. It made online ordering so quick and efficient. I feel your pain on the getting a new card number situation. Thankfully, I just got one because I switched banks. I also HATE changing information. I move a lot, and remembering everywhere that has your address and updating takes forever. These things always seem to come up at the worst time too. So sorry! Hopefully now that a lot of people are noticing the problem, the authorities can get involved and find these people. (And I don't think I've commented here before...maybe a long time ago, but I've been reading since muted! I think I originally connected with your blog as a fellow Steelers fan ;) ) Amanda's latest blog post: Can I make a U-Turn here?

By: Jeanelle

Jeanelle — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 22:50:17 +0000

It feels so violating when something like that happens. We were in an apt for a couple mos in between houses and we were robbed while there. We were so mad to think that someone had been in our personal space. They didn't take as much as they could have, but it was such a headache changing over numbers and all of that, so I'm empathizing with you! Jeanelle's latest blog post: He says, "Atkins can bite me!"

By: andy

andy — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 18:13:53 +0000

Hi - thanks for the link over to my post. Apparently they are hitting a lot of people as I am getting a number of hits from folks searching for the various URLs. Is your card held by Chase perhaps? Mine is a United mileage card, but Chase holds the account, and it seems a number of others were Chase as well. No idea how they got my info... andy's latest blog post: Calling All Patent Clerks!

By: Leslie

Leslie — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 17:44:21 +0000

oh yeah and so glad you got lifelock.. !! :) Leslie's latest blog post: Love at first sight

By: Leslie

Leslie — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 17:43:53 +0000

you know Jen I feel your pain. They bought a boat on ours. Not kidding. It started in November, and we are still trying to get it cleaned up, and he is in jail. Hopefully its only this one occurance, but check all your other credit cards too. You never know! Bummer. Its super frustrating. Leslie's latest blog post: oh this familiar feeling

By: Kristin

Kristin — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 13:49:58 +0000

I just found this article from a link on cnn. Apparently, its another version of the scam that got you Jen.

http://www.ketv.com/news/15557564/detail.html

Kristin’s latest blog post: Rub on the tub…

By: Jen

Jen — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 03:04:36 +0000

@Jenn: I have no idea how they got our info... the cc company is going to be contacting the 3 credit bureaus on our behalf, and actually we JUST signed up for LifeLock a few months ago, so if anything does happen we should be safe. But we will DEFINITELY be keeping a close eye on things from now on.

By: Jane

Jane — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 02:29:57 +0000

My bank called me when they noticed suspicious activity... I was like $3.71 at Walmart on Thursday? hmmm... was I at Walmart on Thursday? And then she said in Illinois.. UM nooo!! ANd it was $371.00... These people had also bought gas and all kinds of good "little" stuff before it was declined. And I had my card in my wallet the whole time! Jane's latest blog post: Weekend