[jonasdatum]

Subject: Identity Theft / Theft of Identity /ID Fraud- I am a Victim of - What To Do - Etc.

Hello and good morning/night. Yea, it's happened; somebody has stolen my identity. How? I do not know. Here is my story as of late.

4/11/2004 - I received two cell phone bills with two account numbers. It appears that they have the same main number though. The account was made with my name minus my middle initial and my social security number. Since I've only seen a few articles on the news or Internet, I figured I'd go to the one place that you can always trust www.techtv.com. There I found this article "Cat's Clicks: Online Credit Reports" [http://www.techtv.com/callforhelp/ca...580372,00.html].
There they gave me the basic steps on what to do to protect my credit and I went from there.

4/12/2004 - Checked to make sure that my driver license wasn't changed and that I have no cars were registered and/or titled in my name [no they're not the same thing].

- Requesting "authenticated" passport records via mail! http://travel.state.gov/passport_services.html.

4/13/2004 - Went to my nearest Police Precinct to file a report. A detective should be getting back to me soon. The sad part is when I returned home, there were two cell phone bills waiting for me. I have not even opened those yet.

Any comments, suggestions, etc?

[jonasdatum]

Hello,

I have found much more data on this issue:

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/credit/idtheft.htm
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/...dtheftfact.htm

Boy, I hope some terrorist dude isn't using my identity. If so, I am in more trouble than initially thought. Now I have to check my tax info as well.

[Rockn]

If they have gotten your SSN they have your identity and can request credit reports, birth certs, passports, and information on pretty much anything they want. It seems all they have gotten is your cell number and those can be cloned. Be carefun in airports when using calling cards and other cards at pay phones, they sit across the lobby with binoculars and read the numbers.

[jonasdatum]

Originally posted by Rockn:
If they have gotten your SSN they have your identity and can request credit reports, birth certs, passports, and information on pretty much anything they want. It seems all they have gotten is your cell number and those can be cloned. Be carefun in airports when using calling cards and other cards at pay phones, they sit across the lobby with binoculars and read the numbers.

Hello Sir/Madam,

You misunderstood/stand. I don't have a cell phone. These dudes used my SS# to get a CELL PHONE! I never had an account with Sprint [the company they used].

[Rockn]

Then you are indeed screwed if they got your SS#. I have nevr had to give anyone a SSN to get a cell phone and if anyone ever asked for one I would be very suspicious about any company that would ever ask for one. I would guess they have your credit card number not your SSN

[CyBerAliEn]

If somebody has your information (SSN, name, address, etc). You need to take appropriate measures.

You may need to contact your credit card company, bank, etc and notify them that your identity has been stolen. Whoever the individual is who has your info could use your credit card or bank account if they have your card number or such.

I would recommend reading through this:

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/alerts/idenalrt.htm


My identity has never been stolen, and I don't know anyone personally who has.

[jonasdatum]

Hello,

Thanks for the input. Today, I'll try to mail that request for passport records. I still have to contact the FTC [http://www.ftc.gov/] and file a complaint with them. As well as Social Security Administration (SSA) [http://www.ssa.gov/]. The problem is that I need the case number from the POLICE first.

This is what I plucked off of the SSA website's Question archive:

Sometimes more than one person might use the same Social Security number (SSN), either on purpose or by accident. If you suspect that someone else is using your SSN for work or some other purpose, or you have received notice from the Internal Revenue Service of unreported taxable income that is not yours, you should report the problem to the Social Security Administration by calling 1-800-772-1213. Our representatives will take action to ensure that your Social Security records are correct.

You can check your earnings record by calling our 800 number and asking for a Form SSA-7004, Request for Earnings and Benefit Estimate Statement. The Statement will show the earnings reported to your Social Security number each year since 1951. If the information on your earnings record is incorrect, we will help correct it. Also, you may download the form or make your request online.

You can make an online request on our Web site at:
http://www.socialsecurity.gov/statement/

You may download Form SSA-7004 from our Web site at: http://www.socialsecurity.gov/online/ssa-7004.html

Other helpful publications on SSA’s web site are:

· SSA Publication No. 05-10064, ”When Someone Misuses Your Social Security Number, at http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/10064.html.
· SSA Publication No. 05-10002, “Social Security: Your Number and Card”, at http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/10002.html.

The Federal Trade Commission also makes available on its web site the publication: “Identity Theft: When Bad Things Happen to Your Good Name”, at http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/credit/idtheft.htm.

What actions should I take if I think I might be a victim of identity theft?

If your SSN has been used to run up bills or obtain credit, Social Security cannot straighten out your credit record. However, we suggest you take the following steps to straighten out your personal records:

1. Check your SSA earnings record. Verify with SSA the accuracy of the reported earnings and request correction if necessary.

2. Notify the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) 1-877-ID-THEFT (438-4338) or http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft. Congress has directed the FTC to establish a centralized database to receive all allegations of identity theft and to provide victims with information to help resolve problems with identity theft.

3. File a report with the local police or the police department where the identity theft took place, and keep a copy of the police report as proof of the crime.

4. Contact the fraud units of the three major credit reporting bureaus:

· Equifax: 1-800-525-6285; or Internet: http://www.equifax.com
· Trans Union: 1-800-680-7289; or Internet: http://www.transunion.com/
· Experian Fraud Unit: 1-888-397-3742; or Internet: http://www.experian.com

You should:
· Identify yourself as an identity theft victim.
· Request that fraud alerts be placed on your credit records requiring creditors to contact you before approving new credit or making any changes to an existing account.
· Ask for copies of your credit reports. (There may be a cost.)

5. Call each creditor to report fraud for any account that has been tampered with or opened fraudulently.

I'll get that form ASAP.

[jonasdatum]

Hello,

I mailed out the request for the "authentic" (http://travel.state.gov/passport_records.html) passport records and mailed out for the social security statement. Now I tried calling the Police Dept, but they had a busy signal.

Might have to go back to the Police since I have those two new bills. Waiting for those complementary credit reports as well.

Does anybody else with experience, resources, or something?

[jonasdatum]

Hello,

"Last night I received two of the three free credit reports and man its amazing how much personal data is out there on me." Also, I found some suspicious stuff on there two. If I am reading it right, there is a fleet bank account in my name. Also, there is a phone number there that I didn't apply for. Weird enough all this is on my www.experian.com report. Sucks! I am wondering what my Equifax report will show?

The TransUnion report was a fairly extensive. Unlike my www.experian.com report, they actually show my SS#. However, this one doesn't show my DOB.

That is it for now.

[Chris A]

Good luck...

[SyscoKid]

You should be aware that a copy of your Social Security earnings record will only contain information through the previous year (at best). If your SSN is being used for employment by somebody else, you wouldn't be able to tell from Social Security records until next year.

[Infidel_Kastro]

Originally posted by Rockn:
Then you are indeed screwed if they got your SS#. I have nevr had to give anyone a SSN to get a cell phone and if anyone ever asked for one I would be very suspicious about any company that would ever ask for one. I would guess they have your credit card number not your SSN

By law, a SS# cannot be used for identification, however, cell companies use them to run credit checks to determine whether you have to leave a deposit.

[jonasdatum]

Hello,

Last night I recieved the Equifax credit report. Wasn't much on it. LOL, there is a reason every body says to get "all three credit reports." The TransUnion and Experian have the most bad stuff on it. So, when I FINALLY DO GET A DETECTIVE AND A CASE NUMBER I'll bring these two!

[jonasdatum]

Hello.

There is still no headway with my situation. Police have yet to inform me of a case number. It is more than likely that my file is sitting on a stack somewhere collecting dust.

Any recommendations?

[jonasdatum]

Hello,

Ok, for those of you who give a crap about my situation, just want something insightful, and/or entertaining to read here what's going on. I haven't recieved a case number yet. Thus making it difficult to proceed with filing a report with the FTC. Also, I need the records from the cell phone company. So I've decided to send a letter via certified mail and notarized requesting that:

1) They send data reguarding the applications, where/when/and by whom they were filled out.
2) - Terminate all existing accounts. "Under no circumstances are you to allow *ANYBODY* using my identity to apply for ANY OF their SERVICES."

Within the letter I gave them the details of what company Rep I spoke to and when. Who thinks this will work? Anypart of this letter?