You know those stories about stolen computers and identity theft?

[democracyindanger]

Ever live one?

I am.

I got a letter today from a former employer. Haven't had any contact with them for five years. Then suddenly, I get a form letter telling me that one of their contractors had computers stolen, and my SSN and other identifying information was on the computers, and I should contact the major credit report agencies. The theft was in November.

Novemmmmmmber.

In fact, probably the only reason I got the letter was because of a California law. If the former employer wasn't incorporated here, I'm not sure I would've got a warning at all.

So I end up, for my own security, shelling out $130 to one of the credit agencies so I can get updated reports for the next year because some idiot at a subcontractor for a company I quit from five years ago left his laptop in the front seat, or didn't lock up the office, or forgot to set the alarm before he left for the night.

Morons. Bastards.

Anyway, take this as your annual reminder: Get your credit report from the three bigs at least once a year. I'm not sure how many other states have laws that insist victims are notified that they are, in fact, victims.

End of rant.

[Blue Diadem]

1. If IRC there is a flag you can put on your credit

so that you are contacted if someone attempts to get credit under your name. It was explained to me 5 or 6 yrs ago when a former employer's computers were stolen.

[TheProphetess]

2. That's right

I had to do that once - have them mark me as a "fraud victim" so that no new activity could happen without verification from me.

[democracyindanger]

3. Yep. Did it right away, but I have to redo it every 3 months.

[Blue Diadem]

4. ahhh..no one told me that ..I only did it that one time n/t

[driver8]

6. Every three months? For which credit report company? I have

flags on all of mine (Equifax, TransUnion, Experian) and I haven't had to do that. I check them once in awhile and my fraud flag is still there.

Believe me, it works.

[democracyindanger]

7. For all of them, is what Equifax told me.

I'll have to double check that.

And I read your other post. That sucks.

[driver8]

9. I'll have to check with them -- thanks. It did suck, but it could

have been so much worse.

[driver8]

5. I had my identity stolen -- and used by several people!

Here is a hint: Don't ever put your outgoing mail in your mailbox for the mailman to take. That is how these m-fers got my info. I had a student loan payment in my outgoing mail and my SSN was on the payment slip. These guys had a field day.

First, I got a bill from credit card company telling me that I paid $1,000.00 for some jewelry--nope, not mine! I got that cleared up.

Next, I had Sears Homelife call me and tell me that someone tried to use my SSN to open a charge account. I had just bought a couch from them a month before so I was already in their system. Lucky for me.

Then, I get a letter from Dell computers telling me that I owe them $6,000 for a computer system that I never bought. Here is the funny part -- the guy used my SSN to open his credit line and actually made payments for a year or so. Not only that, but he had a fake driver's license made with my name but his actual address. When I reported it to the police and they ran a check on the address, the guy who lived there already had a warrant out for his arrest. I have no idea whatever happened to him.

It could have been much worse, I know. There are people who take years to get their credit and name cleared.

I have had flags on all my credit reports for years and that seems to help.

[Gormy Cuss]

8. Bill your former employer.

What the hell, the worst that will happen is they won't reimburse you.