Identity theft... Im a victim
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Joined: Jul 2005
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From: North Little Rock, Arkansas
Originally Posted by RockPick
While it wasn't full-blown identity theft, I recently had a couple of fradulent charges on a check card (Visa).
Oddly enough, my bank caught it and determined that it was, indeed, fraud and froze my account. The thieves attempted to charge $1.39 to a non-existant tent & awning shop in my home town (which I think was a ploy to determine if the number would work -- odd though that it was only $1.39).
My bank told me that they caught it because it was such an anomolously LOW number to be charging/using the check card for a purchase.
I got lucky...
I still attribute that theft to www.lampsplus.com .
Oddly enough, my bank caught it and determined that it was, indeed, fraud and froze my account. The thieves attempted to charge $1.39 to a non-existant tent & awning shop in my home town (which I think was a ploy to determine if the number would work -- odd though that it was only $1.39).
My bank told me that they caught it because it was such an anomolously LOW number to be charging/using the check card for a purchase.
I got lucky...
I still attribute that theft to www.lampsplus.com .
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Joined: Feb 2007
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From: Puyallup, WA
I had something similar happen about 5 years ago and was very surprised when the bank called wondering if I had really spent $8K on designer clothes in Las Vegas! But like just about everyone else I've heard talk about it, the bank was very helpful and had all my money back in a couple of days. Guess that's life in the digital age! 
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From: Rain Pit, Oregon
Cell phone scammers
Many cell phone contracts contain a clause that you are responsible for any charges until you have officially reported your phone lost/stolen. There are cases where thieves racked up $20k in charges and the phone owner was held responsible. Apparently they call 1-900 numbers or whatever. If your phone disappears call the provider ASAP and note the time you called and the name of the person you talked to and told your phone was missing.
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Joined: Dec 2002
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From: Eastern TN
Get a credit card from MBNA - they have a free, easy method to get a temporary CC# that is linked to your real CC# for an online purchase.
It is only good for that one transaction and then it disappears...
It is only good for that one transaction and then it disappears...
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From: The Bluegrass State
Originally Posted by FX4_Guy
I was watching Dateline a few weeks ago and they had a special about identity theft. Basically they set up some credit cards (with help from the credit card companies) with somewhere around $2,000 limits. They jumped into a chatroom and pretended to be credit card theives. It was basically like an auction. Whoever had credit card numbers would sell your data to somebody else. The buyers would in turn charge a few dollars to make sure the card was legit. Once they found out it was legit, then the real spending would take place. It was really kind of amazing.
Very very interesting.... that sounds as though it could've been EXACTLY what may have happend with my card.
I"ve glanced around but haven't found it... I'd love to find a story with similar information regarding this practice if anyone can find one.
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From: Decatur,AL
Originally Posted by RockPick
Very very interesting.... that sounds as though it could've been EXACTLY what may have happend with my card.
I"ve glanced around but haven't found it... I'd love to find a story with similar information regarding this practice if anyone can find one.
I"ve glanced around but haven't found it... I'd love to find a story with similar information regarding this practice if anyone can find one.
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Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Farmington, MO
Originally Posted by ian51279
I had my CC # stolen a few years ago & that's what they did. A small charge first, then a big charge, another small charge, big charge.
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From: Pittsburgh
I knew a couple kids back in highschool that were into computers and hacking...they stole some credit cards and used them to get access to the **** websites...not funny, I know, but imagine those poor guys when their wives got the bills.
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From: Leesburg,Ga
http://www.lifelock.com/
I enrolled with these guys. It is cheap peace of mind for me. I got a letter from my insurance company stating that they had lost a CD with my entire family's personal info on it. We're talking social security numbers, address, phone numbers ,etc. Lifelock is only $10 per month for adults and $2.50 per month for kids under 16. Hell, if the CEO is confident enough to publish his social security number, I'm sold.
I enrolled with these guys. It is cheap peace of mind for me. I got a letter from my insurance company stating that they had lost a CD with my entire family's personal info on it. We're talking social security numbers, address, phone numbers ,etc. Lifelock is only $10 per month for adults and $2.50 per month for kids under 16. Hell, if the CEO is confident enough to publish his social security number, I'm sold.
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From: North Little Rock, Arkansas
Originally Posted by RockPick
Very very interesting.... that sounds as though it could've been EXACTLY what may have happend with my card.
I"ve glanced around but haven't found it... I'd love to find a story with similar information regarding this practice if anyone can find one.
I"ve glanced around but haven't found it... I'd love to find a story with similar information regarding this practice if anyone can find one.
http://www.identitytheftsecrets.com/...ity_thief.html
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From: The Bluegrass State
Originally Posted by FX4_Guy
The special they did was called "To catch an identity thief". I haven't watched all the videos on this site but it looks like it caught a majority of the episode if not all.
http://www.identitytheftsecrets.com/...ity_thief.html
http://www.identitytheftsecrets.com/...ity_thief.html