Anyone delt with identity theft?

[4RNR]

If you have ever had a security clearance (before 2015 or so) all of your personal data was compromised by OPM. Several years ago I had someone use the information to breach my bank and get about $20K. The bank ate the loss, but be aware that that information is out there. The feds did give me 1 year of free credit monitoring for the data breach (yippee!)

No but there have been several credit processing data breaches in the last few years.

If you do not already do this, activate a credit freeze with all three major credit bureaus. That way no one can get new credit, including you, in your name (SS number). When you need to have your credit pulled, you deactivate the freeze at the bureau the lender(s) use(s) for a short period of time. It can be a PITA when trying to get a mortgage, purchase a vehicle, or open a new banking account, but it makes it almost impossible for someone to obtain debt in your name. For me, the once in a while PITA is worth the added security.

Already did!

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[4RNR]

I have only had several too-common credit card hacks.
My credit union is not as fast on the replacement as some banks.
I now keep two credit cards, one normally used only for in person purchases, the other for www orders. But each serves as a spare for the other use.

Once I quit buying gas at the station where an attendant actually pumps the gas... and takes your credit card to a terminal in a booth between pumps, I have not lost a card since. What a coinkydinky.
A shame, it is the only place nearby with non-alcoholic premium that my BMW likes. I have paid cash there a few times to juice it up.

I’ve had a few wonky charges, most notable was a $1250ish purchase on the PlayStation network, or whatever it is called. As much as USAA drives me crazy, they moved quick and I had the funds in my account in about three nights.

Most of my false charges were back when I traveled a lot, so there was the extra exposure. Now we have dedicated cards each for gas, groceries and whatnot, and online purchasing. Haven’t had a bad charge in about a year with that system.

Also second the credit freeze, it is annoying to deal with it but worth it, IMO. Also have template letters ready and saved for the credit agencies just in case.

Should go without saying but as convenient as PayPal, Venmo, and other similar services, are their appeal/dispute process is absolutely infuriating.

I've had those, where your card is compromised.. I just cancel the card and the bank eats the loss. This is someone opening a new card in my name. Basically identity theft.

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[4RNR]

Any possibility it was a clerical error where someone at the PTO function with a Mastercard asked for an email receipt and they said “sure, we’ll send it to the account on file with this phone number…”

Did you check your PTO account to see if your phone number is wrong? Because there might be someone else with that phone number in your PTO and if you typo’d yours, you might have semi hacked theirs inadvertently.

The first thing is I don't have kids so there's no PTO for me! Second... this isn't my local school and three, it's not in my state.





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[NWshooter]

I am a fraud and security expert.

Send me your account number of the compromised card, your SSN, PIN and mom’s maiden name and I’ll take care of this for you.

Your best bet is to contact the bank, cancel the card, and move on. You should also put a freeze your credit bureau, but that should always be something you do.

[JCN]

I am a fraud and security expert.

Send me your account number of the compromised card, your SSN, PIN and mom’s maiden name and I’ll take care of this for you.

Your best bet is to contact the bank, cancel the card, and move on. You should also put a freeze your credit bureau, but that should always be something you do.

He doesn’t even own a card with that info.

It’s probably a pfishing ploy to get him to call and give up information in his quest to find out what’s going on.

[NWshooter]

He doesn’t even own a card with that info.

It’s probably a pfishing ploy to get him to call and give up information in his quest to find out what’s going on.

I was making a joke…..but I guess it missed

Total phish since he doesn’t have the card. But the advice of locking credit bureau is solid advice that all should be doing.

[HCM]

If you have ever had a security clearance (before 2015 or so) all of your personal data was compromised by OPM. Several years ago I had someone use the information to breach my bank and get about $20K. The bank ate the loss, but be aware that that information is out there. The feds did give me 1 year of free credit monitoring for the data breach (yippee!)

As noted in the article you linked, the OPM data breach was conducted by Chinese Intelligence. The OPM hack is far from the only possible vector for someone to steal your identity or $$ from your bank account and I doubt Xi Jinping needed the 20k.

As for the OP - 100% the email was a phishing attempt. If you clicked on the link you may want to have your device checked for malware.

A credit freeze is not a bad idea either.

[Borderland]

Yep. Had my bank account hacked for 25K. I wasn't monitoring it so 3 days and they had the transfer. Took me 2 months to get my bank to reimburse the lose. Mostly because they have untrained employees working in banks for minimum wage. I came very close to filing a complaint with the AG's office because of their incompetence.

That was an identity theft that scored somebody a lot of money. Electronically transferred the money from my account. Wasn't the first time it's happened either. Had the same thing happen about 15 years ago with a credit card renewal. That one was for 25K also. Personally, I don't care how it happens because I have no control over it. I just monitor my accounts everyday now and block the ones that aren't legit. All of those that I didn't initiate. Every one of them.

Lately a lot of charges shows up there that aren't legit. Hackers using my personal information and who knows how they got it. If you pay bills online like I do everyone of those people that work for those companies has your bank account information. Think about that for a second. Employees working for minimum wage have access to your personal banking information. All they need to do is have nothing that shows up on BC and they have a gold mine of information.

[Rex G]

I agree with HCM. This was almost certainly PHISHING. That is what happens when they do NOT really have your complete data, and are hoping that you will with take their BAIT.

Just clicking on their link is a minor victory, as it confirms, to them, that there is a real, live fish. Actually telling them anything, on-line or by phone, is giving them more. Giving them as one more numeral or letter of your real data is a win, for them. If they get your mother’s maiden name, or the last four of your social, or, heaven forbid, your entire social and/or D.O.B., well, they have really won. Folks will see a phishing e-mail, then take the bait, and give them those identifiers, all too frequently.

Do not take their bait. Do not even make a ripple, that lets them know that you really exist.

[Rex G]

“Amazon” and “PayPal” send me stuff, all the time. Yesterday, it was “Bestbuy.” This happens. If I suspect that it is not phishing, I can simply go to the account, by the KNOWN GOOD route, and view any REAL notifications.

I subscribe to a service, Credit Wise, that informs me, when anyone runs a credit check on me, or opens an account in my name, or when my information appears on the dark web. It is accessed through a VISA account.