Identity theft

[epc308]

I received 2 letters from the KS Department of Labor. One was about unemployment benefits, the other about Pandemic Unemployment Assistance.
I didn’t file for either of them.
Someone used my name, and I guess my SSN to file.
So began a trip down the rabbit hole of phone calls and online fraud claims with an assortment of state and federal alphabet agencies, as well as credit card companies, my bank, and the 3 credit bureaus. I’ve spent nearly 8 hours the last few days on all of this and who knows where it will lead and/or end.
If you really have it in for someone, steal their identity. It’s better pay back than a beating.

 

[Dub]

sorry to hear this. How do you think it originated?

 

[pikespeakgoat]

I feel your pain. Identity got stolen a few years ago, wow, what a pain to get through everything. Took me about four months of pita to get stuff cleared up.

One bit of advice if you haven't already done so, make sure you file police report with local LEO. When you go to unlocking credit bureau stuff, it will come in handy.

In my case, I have free credit monitoring courtesy of federal government since my info got stolen from them.

Good luck to you!!!

A good resource:
https://www.usa.gov/identity-theft

 

[Riesel]

I had checks stolen out of the mailbox about 10-12 years ago. I made it a habit to check my bank account each morning for unusual activity and saw where someone was having a hay day.
I went to bank, closed account and got my money back from those that did electronic transfer. Then the crap hit the fan because they turn in my information to the Credit Report people.
They're the real a-holes when you are trying ti get it all straighten out. I know what you are going thru and it may be a while before it's all settled.

 

[epc308]

sorry to hear this. How do you think it originated?

No idea, unfortunately. I learned this evening a friend had the same thing happen, nearly word for word. He said by acting quickly he caught things while still *in process*. I hope I am as fortunate as he was.

 

[epc308]

I feel your pain. Identity got stolen a few years ago, wow, what a pain to get through everything. Took me about four months of pita to get stuff cleared up.

One bit of advice if you haven't already done so, make sure you file police report with local LEO. When you go to unlocking credit bureau stuff, it will come in handy.

In my case, I have free credit monitoring courtesy of federal government since my info got stolen from them.

Good luck to you!!!

A good resource:
https://www.usa.gov/identity-theft

We also had an issue 5-6 years ago. Our accountant tried to file our federal taxes only to learn someone had already filed under my SSN. I jumped through all the hoops, spent untold ours on the chase and eventually learned...nothing. Best guess is that someone fat fingered a SSN that was similar to mine. Never did find anything amiss. While notifying the credit bureaus yesterday, I learned there had been a request from the SBA a week or 2 ago. The SBA was one of many I filed fraud claims with. The KS Dept of Labor said they had filed a police report, but I do think I'll file one with the local PD tomorrow, just to be sure and cover all bases.

 

[jimcasey01]

My wife kept getting letters that she had been turned down for large loans, but with a bit more info, she would be approved. We both wrote it off as junk mail, as it contained addresses that she had not lived at in 30-40+ years. Then came a letter from the Atlanta PD, that her info had been recovered from a "UPS store mailbox raid". It seems that some unscrupulous so and so's were doing the identity theft thing, and all of her past banking and loan info had been found, along with many other's info. A real PITA, to change all of her bank account records, numbers, PINs etc., but nothing was lost except the time involved. We have each been hit with fraudulent charges on our debit cards, but again, nothing lost except for piece of mind and a few hours of paper work and phone calls. Since then we open every piece of mail from a financial institution, and check our bank accounts almost daily. Many years ago, I got a call from the FBI, regarding a cc that had been used all over the SE US. I hung up on them, assuming a bad joke. A few days later, they showed up at my house. It seems that someone had used my fathers SS number (I am a junior) and my banking and loan info. It was cleared up as soon as they saw me, as I was in my 20's, and the person they were seeking was in his 40's-50's. Stupid so and so had walked out on an expensive restaurant bill where he frequented, so the restaurant knew his name. I got with my mother to obtain my father's SS number, and it matched, problem solved.

 

[Ace in TX]

We had an identity theft discovered from an IRS letter asking about our refund request (which we did not request). We had to go in person to the local IRS office to get it straightened out and get a PIN for future filings. Turns out the IRS was hacked, but never contacted anyone - you had to actually experience fraud before they acted.

 

[Lefty Trigger]

Same thing happened to my wife, someone filed for unemployment and had all the paperwork in place to receive payment but the "PIN" number came to our house. The unemployment office traced it back to the hospital where she worked. She it a CNS nurse taking care of Covid people so there is no way she is out of work....

 

[Riesel]

Previous poster, because I was constantly getting my Debit Card info stolen when purchasing items on the internet, I had my bank issue me another card that I
use only for the internet. I transfer funds there on a need to basis. Actually, my monthly donation to Accurate Shooter is set up that way in case this site gets hacked.

 

[C.E.Smith043]

I received 2 letters from the KS Department of Labor. One was about unemployment benefits, the other about Pandemic Unemployment Assistance.
I didn’t file for either of them.
Someone used my name, and I guess my SSN to file.
So began a trip down the rabbit hole of phone calls and online fraud claims with an assortment of state and federal alphabet agencies, as well as credit card companies, my bank, and the 3 credit bureaus. I’ve spent nearly 8 hours the last few days on all of this and who knows where it will lead and/or end.
If you really have it in for someone, steal their identity. It’s better pay back than a beating.

I feel for u. I've had 7 people at work have this same thing happen. So far everything has went well and the gov. agencies are aware of these scams so it should go fairly smooth.

 

[Forum Boss]

FYI We do not receive or retain any credit card information for membership upgrades. That all goes directly through secure encrypted PayPal processing portals.

If you don't like PayPal we also accept personal bank checks.

 

[Texas10]

My County published personal information en masse, for anyone who received unemployment benefits over a 5 year period, until someone caught them at it. Then of course, there were equifax hacks and all sorts of hacks since. Information is power.

Should your ID get stolen, you can figure on 3 years of hard work answering every letter IN WRITING and mailing return receipt. Keep thorough records including of every phone call, and be prepared to fight like hell to hang onto your money.

Even that may not be enough. Been there, done that, got the big thick binder to show for it.

 

[chop house]

oh, how times have changed! i just received, from a member here, a vintage walnut rifle stock - and discreetly 'inscribed' into the buttplate was a name and ssn. remember when the intelligentsia suggested we all mark our property with a readily recognized number (for instance our ssn!) so the gendarmes would know where to return recovered stolen property?
i fell for it briefly, marking a toaster, a tv, and a 6V battery charger using a scribe. i still have the battery charger.
the ssn marking on this buttplate alone tells me it is vintage 70's or 80's. hahaha.

 

[epc308]

I filed a report with the county sheriff today for my last step, at least for now. The deputy that took the report says our small county has nearly 100 so far, with the number and frequency increasing.

 

[JohnKielly]

Previous poster, because I was constantly getting my Debit Card info stolen when purchasing items on the internet, I had my bank issue me another card that I use only for the internet.

I do that to. Then, a week before an overseas trip, both my cards were skimmed and compromised, I suspect at the motel I stayed at.