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Identity Theft

8,720 Views | 31 Replies | Last: 8 yr ago by Build It
P.H. Dexippus
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I came home last night to a full mailbox of credit cards and denial letters. Kohl's. Kay's Jewelry. Chase, Bank of Scotland, etc. I put a credit freeze in place and signed up for LifeLock. I pulled my credit report this morning and found that they had applied for credit at all the major wireless providers and had maxed out the Kohl's card in Minnesota. I despise the human garbage that does this...it's as bad as burglary in my book.

I've noticed the credit agencies, Kohl's and am filing a police report. Any other tips from folks who have been through this?
Hulla Baller
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That was you? My bad.
The Wonderer
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This is not legal advice nor is there an attorney-client relationship between us. This is merely information regarding the reporting of potential identity theft.

1) Call one of the Credit Bureaus (below in blue) and place a fraud alert on your credit report. This will be good for 90 days (we can extend it if/when needed). Confirm with them that they will contact the other two companies to notify them as well (they are required by federal law to do this free of charge);

Equifax 1-800-525-6285
Experian 1-888-397-3742
TransUnion 1-800-680-7289

2) Request a free credit report from whichever Credit Bureau you place the fraud alert with (also free under federal law);

3) Go to https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/#&panel1-1 and create a Federal Trade Commission Identity Theft Affidavit;

4) Contact the FBI Field Office in Dallas as, like you correctly stated, you are a victim of a federal crime:
1 Justice Park Drive
Houston, Texas 77092
(t) 713-936-7000

You will need to bring your FTC Identity Theft Affidavit (from Step 3, above) with you to file the FBI report;

5) Contact the Social Security Administration at 800-269-0271 to report that your SSN has been used to commit identity fraud and you are the victim of identity theft (if applicable); and finally

6) Inform any and all banking institutions where you have an account that you have been the victim of identity theft and fraud.

As phone calls are the faster manner to get these reports on file, you must take diligent notes when talking with these agencies and bureaus. To ensure that you maintain all necessary information, be sure to document, at a minimum, the following information for each and every phone call you make:

*****FOR EVERY PHONE CALL MADE REGARDING THIS MATTER*****
1. Agency Name:
2. Phone number you called:
3. Date:
4. Time at beginning of call:
5. Name of Agency Rep:
6. Identification number of Agency Rep:
7. Purpose of the call:
8. Time at end of the call:

*****REQUEST AND CONFIRM THAT YOUR REQUESTED INFORMATION/REPORT/ETC. BE SENT TO YOUR HOME ADDRESS AS CONFIRMATION OF THE PHONE CALL*****
P.H. Dexippus
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Apparently the SS Administration and FBI both defer to the FTC, for future reference.
I Play With Guns
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You're a good dude!
P.H. Dexippus
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Filed HPD, USPS and FTC reports. $5000 at Helzberg Diamonds in Raleigh, NC and $1000 at Kohls in Minnesota. Multiple iPads from all the major wireless carriers. Tried credit applications at Toys R Us, JC Penny's, Banana Republic, and 10 other retailers. F'ed with my perfect credit. Had fake ID as well. I'm trying to get Helzberg to track down the security video but no luck so far. I will post it to the outdoor board if I get it.
The Wonderer
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I Play With Guns said:

You're a good dude!
Just glad to help. I've had several clients that where victims of ID theft and fraud, so I've gotten good at navigating the BS red tape maze.
Mr. McGibblets
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I totally stroked to this. Thanks bruh
The Wonderer
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Mr. McGibblets said:

I totally stroked to this. Thanks bruh
Never would have guessed that reporting identity theft got ya hard.


Spreadsheet updated..
Remember The Astrodome
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When I first moved to Houston in 2005 my GF had her identity stolen. I figured out who it was and informed the police and presented them with the proof. It was the girls who worked in the front office of the apartment complex. Was then told by the cops that they would follow up when they had time, never heard back.
P.H. Dexippus
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That's the level of responsiveness I am receiving from just about everyone I've contacted.
The Wonderer
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In 2005, ID theft was still "low" on most agencies' radar. It has become more sophisticated, but, as said, most agencies still cannot do much other than make records of reports. The responsibility lies on the victim to report and keep records of questionable charges.

It's a ****ty situation all around and one that is difficult from a money and time consideration to correct when at the scale of what the OP is stating.
The Wonderer
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byfLuger41
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P.H. Dexippus
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Helzberg confirms they have the footage but say they will only release it to law enforcement, which is bulls--t. But I'm asking HPD to jump through the hoop anyway.
Mr. McGibblets
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#SorryNotSorry
Patentmike
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Mr. AGSPRT04 said:

Helzberg confirms they have the footage but say they will only release it to law enforcement, which is bulls--t. But I'm asking HPD to jump through the hoop anyway.
The only way you might get that footage is by suing Helzberg. Probably not worth it.
cr0wbar
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if there was ever something sticky worthy- it would be this. Thanks for sharing, Wonderer. Now I'm heading to stroke as well.
CDUB98
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Tell the po-po the identity thief is also dealing weed and there will be a swat team at their door within the hour.
Ferris Wheel Allstar
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MouthBQ98
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Had my CC or debit card numbers stolen a few times due to all the online business and purchases my wife and I make. Fortunately never full blown ID fraud, just have to get a new account number and redo my auto billing. Usually it is hackers overseas or an employee stealing customer info. The government LEO don't have time for it, and we all socialize the costs as higher bank fees, interest rates, insurance rates, etc.

Frankly, we ought to cut off a finger of every convicted thief that gets caught doing this crap. A few missing digits and they might opt for honest work.
The Wonderer
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Michael Barnhart said:

Mr. AGSPRT04 said:

Helzberg confirms they have the footage but say they will only release it to law enforcement, which is bulls--t. But I'm asking HPD to jump through the hoop anyway.
The only way you might get that footage is by suing Helzberg. Probably not worth it.
You don't have to sue Helzberg, but you would need a suit of some kind to issue a subpoena on a third party witness.
Patentmike
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The Wonderer said:

Michael Barnhart said:

Mr. AGSPRT04 said:

Helzberg confirms they have the footage but say they will only release it to law enforcement, which is bulls--t. But I'm asking HPD to jump through the hoop anyway.
The only way you might get that footage is by suing Helzberg. Probably not worth it.
You don't have to sue Helzberg, but you would need a suit of some kind to issue a subpoena on a third party witness.
Except Helzberg probably destroys the video tapes after a short time and the relevant store is out of state, I think. Good luck getting discovery started quickly enough for the subpoena to work on an out of state non-party. Not impossible, but not my first choice.

If you sue Helzberg directly, they have a duty to affirmatively preserve all discoverable evidence and information, including your video tape.
PatentMike, J.D.
BS Biochem
MS Molecular Virology


P.H. Dexippus
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The guy from Helzberg tells me that all footage is kept on the server at corporate and that they have footage going back 60 days. I already sent them an evidence preservation letter. I doubt it comes to a suit, but I will take a hard look at that in two weeks.
Patentmike
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Nice. I like it.
The Wonderer
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Mr. AGSPRT04 said:

The guy from Helzberg tells me that all footage is kept on the server at corporate and that they have footage going back 60 days. I already sent them an evidence preservation letter. I doubt it comes to a suit, but I will take a hard look at that in two weeks.
This is what you do.
Stringfellow Hawke
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Is not a joke, Jim.
AggieMainland
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I was a victim of identity theft back in 2012ish.

The guys name is Austyn Afenkhena. Dude has been in prison since 2014. Hope he rots in hell. Bro was living in a nicer place than I was and driving a Benz. F him.
10andBOUNCE
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Definitely recommend ID Theft protection if you all don't have it.
P.H. Dexippus
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UPDATE

I am past damage control mode, now in recovery and vengeful mode. No new accounts have been opened in the last 3 weeks but I am still getting bills in the mail. Hopefully this provides folks a starting point if they ever encounter the same thing:
  • Freeze your credit and place a fraud warning on your account. The credit bureaus are mainly interested in selling you credit monitoring services, so don't expect much assistance here.
  • No government agency cares. Or at least to the point that it matters. I wasn't worried about getting stuck with the charges, I just wanted to try and catch the ****ers that stole my identity. But good luck getting anyone to investigate. You should file a report with the FTC, but they don't investigate or prosecute. Local police departments create a report for you but that's it. The FBI and SS folks won't even open a case, don't bother. The Post Master General has a report you can fill out but you won't hear back.
  • By law, retailers are required to assist a victim of ID theft by (1) cancelling the incurred debt; (2) not reporting the debt to a collection agency; and (3) provide you with all records generated in your name. But good luck getting anyone to comply willingly, which lead me to...
  • Create a paper trail. You'll just get the runaround from unhelpful people on the telephone. Pull your credit reports. Find out where the unauthorized credit inquires were requested by. Send them certified letters. I sent one that tracks the language of the Fair Credit Reporting Act. If the retailer does not comply, you have recourse against them.

  • Request security camera footage when possible. And hope that it's better quality than this from Helzberg Diamonds in Raleigh, NC:
sts7049
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Build It
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Both wife and I have had identity stolen. Fairly certain it was a temp employee at the doctors office. Fixed that and then Obama sold my secrets to the Chinese. They have all of my info, , my children's, parents, in laws, know who my neighbors and friends are and have been for the last 30 years. My credit is on lock down.

Thieves and foreign intelligence agencies suck.
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