So, I am now a victim of ID theft.

[usregimechange]

Someone in California used my information and credit card number to buy something (I am in Missouri). I canceled my card and was sent a new one. The credit card company said I won't be responsible to pay for the amount.

They sent me an affidavit form to fill out. One of the parts is, have I reported it to the police. Should I do so? I have zero knowledge about who did it other than that the crtedit card company said it was some one in California.

:shrug:

[Donnachaidh]

1. shouldn't the credit card company provide the evidence?

From the illegal use of the card? I would think that would be how you would report it, no?

[gollygee]

2. It doesn't sound like they're telling you to

it sounds like they're asking you if you did. Like if your wallet/purse was stolen, you probably would have reported it to the police.

[usregimechange]

4. Yes, they are asking if I did.

[gollygee]

6. You could always call and ask if they want you to

but they are legally the victim, not you, so they might be asking because they plan to if you didn't.

[mcscajun]

3. Certainly you should file a police report.

The police may not be eager to take it, though, as there Is little they can do.

Here's a link you should take a look at; they have resources on ID theft here: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/

[usregimechange]

9. Thank you, doing so now.

[valerief]

5. Join the club. I was victimized by Office Max's insecure handling of

debit cards. My bank stopped the transaction before it happened, but they wouldn't officially confirm whether Office Max was the root of the problem or not.

[LiberalinNC]

7. Unfortunately I read about identify theft in my local newspaper's "Police Section"

weekly. I'd pull my credit history/report ASAP to make sure there isn't something funny on it. Good Luck!!!

[aquart]

8. Last Xmas my credit card went to Prada.

While it was still in my purse. I have no idea how they did it, but it was done in a store, not online. The credit card company immediately noticed it was not my kind of purchase and called me.

[Clark2008]

24. I always call my bank and my credit card company to let

them know that I will be traveling, particularly when I go out of the country, so that purchases made probably are mine.

They note this stuff - and if my card were ever used when I HADN'T called them, they would find that suspicious. In fact, they did. I neglected to call the credit card company before I went to Mexico on my honeymoon this year and they called me up and asked. I had sent an secure email to my bank, so they were aware.

[KarenS]

10. My Husband had his ID stolen last April,,,,

In our case someone was setting up new accounts,,,, We are still mopping up the mess.

Definitely call the Police, mind you, you have to force them to take a Police Report (not kidding) but what this does is prove to the CC company that you are willing to face prosecution if you are lying.

I am the secretary here at home,,,, I check my Husband's credit reports (all 3 bureaus) every week, that will show if there are new inquiries against your credit,,,,

I have a few links for information about this,,,, I'll post back in a few minutes with them.

I hope this is a single incident for you, but following up can save you lots of time & trouble.

on edit:

http://www.idtheftcenter.org/vg100.shtml

http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft/con_steps.htm#report

Good Luck with this!!

[Skinner]

11. YES! REPORT IT TO THE POLICE!

I was a victim of identity theft about four or five years ago. I didn't report it to the police at first for exactly the same reasons you state -- I had no clue who was responsible, I didn't have any clue what to report, and I didn't feel like the police could do anything. I had reported it to my credit card company, which I thought was enough.

But eventually it became clear to me that I needed that police report.

After about ten months, I finally reported it and the police kept asking why in the hell I waited ten months to report it. The officer who took the report was openly hostile to me, acting as if I were some kind of fraudster.

You will need that police report. Get it as soon as possible. Trust me on this.

Also: contact all the credit reporting companies (I can't remember their names -- there are three of them -- your credit card company can tell you how) and tell them to put a fraud notice on your credit report. That will (theoretically) make it harder for thieves to get credit in your name.

(Someday I will tell the whole story of my ID theft. What a nightmare. Someone down in Georgia actually purchased a giant $70,000 Toyota Sequoia SUV in my name.)

[WiseButAngrySara]

15. Great advise for all! Thanks Skinner. Nothing like personal

experience. What a dreadful type of theft!

[usregimechange]

16. Wowe! Mine was about 70$. I will do so. Thank you.

[mcscajun]

21. The Big Three (Credit Reporting Agencies)

The credit reporting agencies are:

Equifax
PO Box 105873
Atlanta, GA 30348
800-685-1111

Experian
PO Box 2002
Allen, TX 75013
Consumer Credit Questions
888-EXPERIAN (888-397-3742)

TransUnion
Post Office Box 2000
Chester, PA 19022
[phone]

[jtm111]

26. YES REPORT IT!

When my ID was stolen a few years ago, I found out the credit issuers REQUIRED a police report for their internal purposes, I suppose the loss is covered by insurance, so the a case has to be made for the claim on their part.

My thief took quite a bit of money cuz I'm an old guy with many years of credit history, high credit score, so the thief could pretty much walk in wherever he wanted and get $20,000 credit on the spot. One retailer - I won't say who - granted him that much without even running a credit check, and that same retailer was the one who dragged their feet longest before letting me off the hook for the money.

It's a nightmare, and it really challenged my faith in my fellow man for some time.

Anyway - YES, YOU SHOULD REPORT TO THE POLICE if your ID is hijacked.

Good luck, it's a big pain, but it does end eventually.

[Lasher]

12. That's happened to me twice

Somebody got my credit card number when I shopped online but I didn't have to pay anything. I did have to fill out a form but I didn't file a police report either time.

I always use the same credit card when shopping online so that I can monitor purchases more easily and I never use my check (debit) card for those purchases.

[NMDemDist2]

13. be sure you put a freeze on your credit at all 3 Credit Reporting Agencies

too

So if they have ALL your info (not just the CC #) they can't get more credit in your name

Happened to me a couple years ago thanks to a crooked Rental Car Employee

[driver8]

18. I have a "flag" on all of my credit reports. It states very clearly

that if someone is trying to get credit using my info, that I must first be called at home.

[wakemeupwhenitsover]

30. Excellent advice. Someone swiped DH's credit card number.

I'm upstairs reading & he's downstairs, opening the mail. He yells up "someone stole your CC off the internet". I run screaming down two flights of stairs. I look at it & tell him that I don't even have that blankety blank card. Someone stole it from him. We figured it was probably when he faxed an order.

Anyhow, I got the same flag put on at the three agencies. I even go on once a year & check to make sure. (There's some law that says the agencies have to let you get a free yearly check.)

[Ioo]

14. YES REPORT IT!

It can only help to cover your ass more.

[driver8]

17. I had my identity stolen -- it took me three or four years to clear

up. These guys sell your information -- there must have been 3 or 4 people using my credit info.

One other tip for people...DO NOT put your outgoing mail in your mailbox. That is how my info was stolen...I had paid a bunch of bills and my student loan payment slip had my SSN on it. That is the easiest way for thieves to get your info.

[usregimechange]

19. My state's Attorney General has a form to fill out as well.

[Warpy]

20. Yes. Go to the closest police station

and file a report. Let them Xerox anything you have to show that your identity has been stolen. That paper trail can save your ass later when you're trying to correct your credit report should the scumbag thief manage to parlay that stolen credit card number into something even better.

Filing a police report means filling out forms and MAYBE talking to a cop. It isn't an onerous process and it shouldn't cost you more than an hour.

[Booster]

22. Someone opened a Dell computer account in my name and

charged $1600 worth of stuff. When I got the bill I called Dell and told them I had never opened an account with them. They were very nice and sent me a form to fill out stating I had not done this and the form had to be notorized. Before I could even get the form completed, Dell sent me a letter stating that this was obviously a fraud and that I was released from any payment. Needless to say, I was very relieved, but my question is if they could tell it was obviously fraud why in the Hell did they open the account in the first place. The only way I can see that they could stop half of this stuff is if they didn't allow people to open accounts online - I know it would be a hassle for a lot of us, but we seemed to have done better with this sort of thing before the internet. It still happened, but not as much as it does now.

[CrispyQ]

23. Another thing I read,

whenever you give someone your card, when they return it to you, verify that it is actually your card. Scammers have several cards, & will slip you someone else's card that looks similar to yours. You put that card in your wallet & they have your card, make purchases until you report it, then slip your card to the next victim.

[Stephanie]

25. When it happened to me the credit card company reported it.

I had no idea anyone had stolen my card. AMEX just called me up one morning and asked me if I'd been in Michigan. Then they cancelled the card and reported it to the police. The police did call me later and I spoke with them, but I never reported anything, AMEX took care of everything.

[MadHound]

27. Yes, report it to the police, then

Cut up every single credit card that you have, and go to a strictly cash/check basis. Then you won't have to worry about ID theft very much at all, nor will you have to feed these corporations. I have been card free my entire life, and have suffered no ill effects from it. Credit cards are a scam job, and there is no reason a sane person would have them.

[SheilaT]

29. I'm curious.

If you are on a strictly cash/check basis, how do you manage things like renting a car, or a hotel room? Or do you simply live a life that doesn't require those things? Not meaning to pry, and I agree that not having credit cards can be a better way to live in many ways, but I see some logistical difficulties.

[melm00se]

28. yes

file the police report...it may help you further down the road...

[blues90]

31. I had this happen with my debit card

I was called by the bank , they asked me if I went on any trips last week . I said no just back and forth to work same old thing .

I asked why and they said there were a few gas stations that used my card .

I never lost my card and could never figure out how anyone could use my card without having the card . This was all done at union 76 filling stations .

It came to $50 each for a total of $1800.00 .

I found out that at filling stations that they just enter $1 to enter the card so if you had $50 that's 50 transactions .

I never did find out how this happened and was credited all the funds . I also had to keep track of my account each day to look for more and change my card number .