identity theft

[sundial]

It all started with a Netflix I received in the mail.

Then the Neiman Marcus order. And a Match.com, QVC, blood pressure monitoring, and jeans. Oh, and a long distance call--out of the country.

I just got back from the bank. I have a series of charges on my bank issued debit card and thankfully I will be reimbursed for the losses. I cannot figure out how it happened as I only use it to make online purchases with reputable companies that are (supposedly) hacker safe. I always make sure the website is secure before ordering. My bank recommended I log on to www.verifiedmyvisa.com to help make my online transactions more secure.

Somewhere, some punk kid is having a hey day and I'd like to clean his clock!

[Blueberry]

OH - that SUCKS!!!!

Go ahead and have a fraud alert put on your credit so the little creep can't open any more accounts - and get a copy of your report so you can see what else he/she has done.

I really don't like people some days

Edited to Add: Someone in NJ made a duplicate copy of our credit cards and went on a shopping spree. We never learned how it happened. Some merchants "double scan" and save the info, so it could have been anywhere. Thankfully, we have not had any more problems.

[mimitabby]

the thief could have been an employee at the last restaurant you ate out at. It would be wrong to assume the thief could only be via the internet.

[sundial]

Well, I contacted the credit reporting agencies. The little punk bought a camcorder on QVC, opened an account with a porno website, (they have since flagged my account and banned him), had a great time on Match.com and who knows what else. I'm waiting to get my paperwork from the bank and take it over to the police department.

I haven't lost a card so I don't know how he got my info. Apparently this guy is over in the UK, we think. How in the heck did he do this?

[sundial]

Mimi, I use this particular debit card for online orders of art supplies. I have a Mac computer too so I don't know how (or if) he hacked.

[mimitabby]

wow.
I am clueless, unless one of the art stores has a creep working for him.

[VeloVT]

Sadly there are lots of security holes out there. Hannafords (an east coast grocery chain) just revealed that hundreds of thousands of card #s had been obtained by hackers. How? There was some kind of vulnerability in Hannafords' system, and the card #s were being captured during the card authorization process. Who would have thought that swiping your card at the grocery checkout would put your information at risk? My card company just closed my account and sent me a new card because my card # was compromised (though luckily I didn't get any unauthorized charges).

I don't use my debit card for anything other than local ATMs anymore. I know that Visa/MC branded debit cards now have protection for unauthorized purchases, but it's still your bank account in the meantime...

Sorry this happened to you and good luck.

[maillotpois]

I've had this happen a couple of times. Most recently, Amazon contacted me and told me that my credit card was being used in a suspicious manner. They track this information if you store your credit card data with them. I think it was pretty nice of them. Someone was buying stuff and shipping it to China. So we canceled that card.

I also had a wallet stolen from on my desk at work when I was in san Diego. Some woman applied for some credit cards, and I ended up putting a fraud alert on my TRW, etc. I recommend the fraud alert, in general. It's a pain in the neck because it makes it hard for you to get credit sometimes (they have to go through additional steps to verify your identity - DH had trouble getting the 90 day same as cash deal on a TV once because of the fraud alert ), but it is worth it.

Good luck!

[sundial]

Liza, I'm beginning to think maybe I should open a credit card account instead of using the debt card. And keep the credit line low--say $500 in case some jerk wants to go on a shopping spree.

Did the thief open any new accounts after your identity theft?

[Brandi]

My dh said you never know in a case like this. It could be someone in one of those companies you made the purchases from. Never store your credit card info always re enter every time. and don't use a debit card use a credit card. You don't want them to have a link to your bank account. And (not to preach I swear) Make sure you have a good firewall or security on your own computer. But it happens.

[VeloVT]

Liza, I'm beginning to think maybe I should open a credit card account instead of using the debt card. And keep the credit line low--say $500 in case some jerk wants to go on a shopping spree.

Did the thief open any new accounts after your identity theft?

I actually haven't checked (suppose I should). I figured my card was one of hundreds of thousands of numbers that were stolen, and it appears they just hadn't gotten to mine yet . Also in this case, it was JUST numbers that were compromised, not names, addresses, etc.

Here's the story -- a little scary that it looks like there are holes in legal requirements for security best practices that made it easier for the thieves. So, in your case, who knows where your information was compromised...
http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0402/p15s01-stct.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/23/us...=1&oref=slogin
http://www.hannaford.com/credit_card_security/

[Brandi]

www.verifiedmyvisa.com[/url] to help make my online transactions more secure. [/QUOTE]
I tried going there it didnt work. Do you have the right address?

[Blueberry]

Sundial-

Sadly this can happen without them having your card. Ours never left our possession.

True credit cards are generally zero fraud liability - so there's not so much to worry about. At least, if something happens, you're not out the cash until it's resolved. Plus, I'm just less comfortable with someone potentially getting access to my bank account. I will not use my debit card online.

It could well be an employee of one of the art stores. Truly, it could be anybody, anywhere.

CA

[DrBadger]

I just had something sort of similar happen to me, but in my case they were just using my address to have things shipped to (the name being used was probably the victim of identity theft). My accounts and credit were all intact (though I still put on a fraud alert), the only thing that I am dealing with is that the person who was shipping things and claiming them at my apartment complex intercepted one of my packages and signed for it... that was my new point and shoot camera (well, that was take one of getting that camera, I ended up picking up the camera at Best Buy instead... took 4 photos and then dropped and broke it ...still dealing with that one!). Costco is dealing with the "mis-delivered" camera.

I did file a police report (one of the things that I got in the mail was for some checks that had been ordered so there was obviously something sinister going on. The sargent who responded to my call told me that you shouldn't use a debit card unless it is pin driven, and even then you are better off with credit cards. He said to have one credit card that you only use online, might be good to have one that you only put your recurring payments on, like utilities, cable, cell phone etc., and have one other one you use for everything else. That way if one of the numbers gets compromised you can cancel that one without having a huge impact on the rest of your life. He also said that online is actually the most secure way to do things like you banking (make sure your internet connection is secure). He worked white collar crime and said that they didn't see a lot of identity theft online (though there obviously is some), most of it comes from stealing checks out of the mail, and stores/resteraunts either using a sniffer (gets your number), or just copying your credit card info.

Sorry this happened to you Sundial! Good luck getting everything straightened out!
Ellen

[DrBadger]

www.verifiedmyvisa.com[/url] to help make my online transactions more secure.

I tried going there it didnt work. Do you have the right address?[/QUOTE]

It is verified by visa. Here is the website:
https://usa.visa.com/personal/security/vbv/index.html