Author Topic: Identity thieves suck  (Read 3072 times)

zxcvbob

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Identity thieves suck
« on: November 09, 2011, 08:43:25 PM »
Yesterday I got some mail from Paypal Smart Connect that looked like a preapproved credit application.  I shredded it like I do all financially junk mail.  Today I got something from them again; this time it's a statement with a real-looking credit card number, a 29.99% interest rate, and $1095.90 balance.

I called the (866) number and told the nice Indian tech support guy that I did not have a Paypal credit card, had never opened an account, and WTF.  He was helpful; closed the account and started a fraud investigation at GE Capital, who I guess is their underwriter.  I asked about calling the credit agencies to freeze my credit and he said he was just about to recommend that, because they have *all* my identity info.  Then he wished me a happy birthday tomorrow.   :facepalm:

So I went to Equifax and filled out the web form for a 90 day freeze.  Now what?  Do I need to file a police report so I can get a 7-year freeze? Get a free copy of my credit report immediately, or wait a month? (this account was just opened a week ago and they happened to hit right at the end of the billing cycle)

I thought the "happy birthday" was a nice touch.
« Last Edit: November 09, 2011, 10:12:35 PM by zxcvbob »
"It's good, though..."

brimic

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Re: Identity thieves suck
« Reply #1 on: November 09, 2011, 10:08:02 PM »
I had my run-in with this crap a year or so ago.
I got a notice from my brokerage company that my account was locked down.
Thankfully, they had some sort of computer algorythm that triggered my account to shut down when an IP address from indonesia placed an order using my account on some asian penny stock.
Apparantly there's a scam called 'pump and dump' where hackers buy a bunch of a penny stock, then used hacked accounts to buy as much of the same stock as quickly as possible then sell their own shares.

I'dlove to wring their skinny little necks.


"now you see that evil will always triumph, because good is dumb" -Dark Helmet

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Barack Obama

zxcvbob

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Re: Identity thieves suck
« Reply #2 on: November 09, 2011, 10:15:19 PM »
I'm pretty sure nobody hacked any of my accounts; they had to hack an employer or a financial company or the .gov to get my SSN and address and birthday, etc.  None of my accounts have that info visible.

But I think I might change all my passwords just to be safe.
"It's good, though..."

MechAg94

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Re: Identity thieves suck
« Reply #3 on: November 09, 2011, 11:26:26 PM »
I had my run-in with this crap a year or so ago.
I got a notice from my brokerage company that my account was locked down.
Thankfully, they had some sort of computer algorythm that triggered my account to shut down when an IP address from indonesia placed an order using my account on some asian penny stock.
Apparantly there's a scam called 'pump and dump' where hackers buy a bunch of a penny stock, then used hacked accounts to buy as much of the same stock as quickly as possible then sell their own shares.

I'dlove to wring their skinny little necks.



So did you make money on the trade? 
“It is much more important to kill bad bills than to pass good ones.”  ― Calvin Coolidge

brimic

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Re: Identity thieves suck
« Reply #4 on: November 10, 2011, 09:13:08 AM »
Quote
So did you make money on the trade? 

The trade never went through (thankfully).
"now you see that evil will always triumph, because good is dumb" -Dark Helmet

"AK47's belong in the hands of soldiers mexican drug cartels"-
Barack Obama

P5 Guy

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Re: Identity thieves suck
« Reply #5 on: November 10, 2011, 01:10:28 PM »
To my mind Identity Theft should be a capital offense.
Murder steals your life, rape steals your life. The ID thief also steals your life. Why is there a difference in the punishment?
Just my thoughts.
« Last Edit: November 11, 2011, 08:50:12 AM by P5 Guy »

vaskidmark

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Re: Identity thieves suck
« Reply #6 on: November 10, 2011, 03:55:17 PM »
To my mind Identity Theft should be a capitol capital offense.
Murder steals your life, rape steals your life. The ID thief also steals your life. Why is there a difference in the punishment?
Just my thoughts.

FIFY.

Those folks in the capitol are committing a different sort of crime that results in your life being stolen.

stay safe.
If cowardly and dishonorable men sometimes shoot unarmed men with army pistols or guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary and gallows, and not by a general deprivation of a constitutional privilege.

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They keep making this eternal vigilance thing harder and harder.  Protecting the 2nd amendment is like playing PACMAN - there's no pause button so you can go to the bathroom.

Frank Castle

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Re: Identity thieves suck
« Reply #7 on: November 10, 2011, 04:18:51 PM »
Have you ordered anything from cabelas in the last month ?

The 2 time i got hit , was after i ordered from them ! :mad:

P5 Guy

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Re: Identity thieves suck
« Reply #8 on: November 11, 2011, 08:51:32 AM »
FIFY.

Yeah and them too. Shees the proof readers. :facepalm:

Those folks in the capitol are committing a different sort of crime that results in your life being stolen.

stay safe.