Identity Theft

[Triskeliongirl]

My laptop was stolen this morning. It contained personal information, i.e. soc sec. numbers, dob, addresses, passport #s for all my family members. Isn't there a service you can register with that makes it harder for someone to create new accounts using your personal info. Can someone please give me a link. I did just change all my passwords on exisiting accounts, just worried about someone trying to create new ones.

[Possegal]

you need to contact all three credit reporting agencies and put a fraud alert on your information. then they will contact you anytime someone tries to open an account with your info. i am on my way to a meeting right now, but i'm sure if you look online you can find the info for the 3 agencies - TRW, Experian, and i forget the third one. i'm sure someone else will have more info.

sorry about your laptop!

[salsabike]

Here's part of a really useful letter I got when a website I order from was hacked:



To further protect yourself, we recommend that you place a fraud alert on your credit file. A fraud alert lets creditors know to contact you before opening new accounts. Just call any one of the three credit reporting agencies at the number below. This will let you automatically place fraud alerts and order your credit report from all three.

Equifax: (800) 525-6285
Experian: (888) 397-3742
TransUnion: (800) 680-7289

When you receive your credit reports, review them carefully. Look for accounts you did not open, inquires from creditors that you did not initiate, and for personal information that is not correct, such as your home address and Social Security number. If you see anything you do not understand, call the credit agency at the telephone number on the report.

If you find any suspicious activity on your credit reports, call your local police or sheriff’s office and file a report of identity theft. Get a copy of the police report. You may need to give copies to creditors to clean up your records.

Even if you do not find any signs of fraud on your report, we recommend that you check your credit reports every three months for the next year. Just call one of the numbers above to order your reports and keep the fraud alert in place.

For more information on identity theft and to file a compliant with the Federal Trade Commission’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, visit http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft or call
(877) 382-4357.

[Blueberry]

Here's a link to all relevant phone numbers:

http://www.fightidentitytheft.com/fraud_numbers.html

That *really* sucks. The fraud alerts are a pain - be forewarned. We moved not long after I put one on my accounts and had to set up all utilities in DH's name. They wouldn't bother to actually verify the info as they are required to. They just said that deposits would be required.

Go ahead and alert you bank and all credit card companies too, so they can be on the lookout.

CA

[Triskeliongirl]

Thanks guys! That is exactly what I am looking for! But, if the fraud alerts will create other problems, what is the liklihood someone finds and uses your personal info. when they steal your computer, vs just cleaning the hard drive and selling it?

[Possegal]

i lost my wallet once with all the important items in it, and i called the three reporting agencies and put the fraud alert on my info. i didn't see any problems at all. though i didn't move anytime after that.

and for the record, nothing ever came of it. whoever found my wallet must have taken all the cash, stamps and metro cards, and tossed the rest in teh trash. i think most people who steal a wallet or laptop (or find as it were in my case) would never go to the hassle of stealing an identity. but i know no statistics on it. i think they will take the easy way out and sell the laptop for some cash and be done with it.

[salsabike]

I think you are safer putting the fraud alerts on. We have done that twice and never had any problems from them.

[Blueberry]

I agree that you're safer to put them on. However, just be aware that the practical effect is that no one, not even you, will be able to have credit extended on your social until they expire. I think for a mortgage or the like where you work closely with someone, you would be OK. However, for routine credit apps (buying a car, power, gas, etc), they'll block you too and you'll be treated as if you have no credit. At least that was my experience.

CA

[GLC1968]

My H is a security specialist and recommends this company. We both now have policies with them.

For next time...

http://www.lifelock.com/

[Possegal]

i remember being able to get credit while the alert was on, they just did a lot of verifying that it was in fact me getting the credit. but that was some time ago and they could have gotten tougher on that aspect. i think it is something worth talking to someone at the agency about though, as i agree, that could prove to be a real problem!

[Blueberry]

I think the problem was more like most credit providers (at leas the ones I dealt with) wouldn't go to the trouble to verify - they would just deny or ask for a deposit.....I hope things have changed - that was about 5 years ago.

CA

[ccnyc]

Interesting article in the WSJ about freezing your credit report to prevent identity theft and how to unfreeze it when you need to.
http://online.wsj.com/public/article...702669159.html

[Tuckervill]

Thanks guys! That is exactly what I am looking for! But, if the fraud alerts will create other problems, what is the liklihood someone finds and uses your personal info. when they steal your computer, vs just cleaning the hard drive and selling it?

Put the fraud alerts on, and assume they sold your laptop anyway.

My husband's laptop was stolen with a lot of other stuff in Detroit in August. I immediately put the fraud alerts on (he doesn't keep our financial records on there, but I was being cautious). I put on a 90-day alert. If you have to apply for credit during that 90 days, they will call you. However, some credit grantors will automatically deny your application if they find out a fraud alert has been put on your account. That could be a hassle, but i figure I can do without that extra 10% store credit for 90 days.

The Detroit police said the laptop was likely dismantled into parts and up on ebay before my DH even discovered the theft. The hard drive was likely wiped, but it has occurred where someone found data on hard drives sold as new on ebay. So, you don't want the eventual buyer to find your data, either.

Change all your passwords--paypal, ebay, wherever else you go that has a financial slant. Change your email passwords, too.

It's going to be very inconvenient for a long time, because you won't remember everything you lost on it right away. I'm sorry this happened. It really sucks. They even stole my husbands underwear!

Karen

[Blueberry]

However, some credit grantors will automatically deny your application if they find out a fraud alert has been put on your account. That could be a hassle, but i figure I can do without that extra 10% store credit for 90 days.

Sadly for us, it wasn't a store credit. It was power, water and gas for the new apartment we were renting, and but for DH's credit, I would have had to pay in excess of $1000 in deposits when I had perfect credit. I was a broke student. I would have been without power, water and heat.

CA