Identity theft is a HUGE problem here in Oregon, due to the meth epidemic here. My co-worker recieved a call from a check cashing place and a check had bounced, she told them that they must be mistaken because she had never been to a check cashing place, come to find out, her account was majorly overdrawn. This IS a problem.

I had both my VISA and AMEX accounts hijacked. Its obvious someone has my SS#. I am considering changing my SS# I know its a PITA but I cannot continue to risk people stealing my CC#'s and running up charges.

The VISA one was classic. The person changed my billing addy to one of a Pakmail in Anchorage Alaska. Ordered $5K worth of computer gear and tried to have it shipped to Alaska.

I caught it in the process and stopped it. Changed my addy back and was waiting for a new CC. The person called AGAIN and changed the addy back to Alaska and got a card shipped to them.

I called and cancelled that card and changed all my passwords.

The Amex got hit by 4 first class tickets for some teens to fly from Madison WI to Ft. Lauderdale.


Like I said I am in the process of changing my SS#.

The Fed is barely handling this and local authorities are already stretched.

It does take time to investigate a crime like this; I lost a card a few months ago and within that 24 hours had a $200 limo ride. As soon as I realized it was lost I called the CC company and informed them. They went over the recent charges and she literally asked me how I "enjoyed that $200 limo ride." I said "What limo ride?" She said - "so that one wasn't you?"

Nope.

They mailed me a form to fill out and reversed the charge. Sent me a new card with new numbers within the week.

Here's the question:

If *YOU* lost your card how much of a responsibility of the CC company is it to get you a new one ASAP at their cost?

I was happy to wait the better part of the week for my card but she was surprised when I didn't raise a fuss about it. She said that most folks expect to have their new CC next day aired to them at the CC companies cost - regardless of the fact that it was their fault for loosing the card.

My response was simple - #1) I don't need the card that bad (I pay it off every month and only charge things for the miles I get).

#2) It was *MY* fault, why should they pay for next day shipping? Sure it's good customer service and I can appreciate that but it isn't necassary.

Americans rely on credit too much - maybe that says something about our economy...

Where I work has a lot of private information; I spend a *LOT* of time in meetings saying "no" to things because I know they are insecure. Businesses just do not even begin to realize how vulnerable their HR (where the majority of SSNs are stored) data is. Lets say you have 10 unix servers and one of them runs an unpatched ftp server. The chances are that unpatched ftp server is a window - well - no it is more accurately a garage door into your network. It's very likely and common practice that all of your root passwords are the same so if one system is compromised then they all are. Just an example...

The businesses and institutions that house this data ARE legal responsible for keeping it safe it is simply a matter of holding them accountable for the losses. It's only a matter of time before it gets worse.

There was a recent article in that liberal magazine Playboy where the most famos id thief took the list of Forbes 500 and targeted the top 10 or so incomes and stole MILLIONS from them simply by getting their SSNs and calling up the companies he guessed they would have accounts at. This fellow had less than a high school education as I recall. He used basic social engineering to get the data and the money.

Safe guard your computers all you want; There are many other ways for them to get you. Make your mailbox lockable...shred everything that you're going to throw away.

Try to sleep at night.

SmileWavy

Americans rely on credit cards too much. I resisted getting one for the longest time, until I got a job that required me to travel, and then I was hosed. You can't get plane tickets, a room, or a a rental car without a credit card. Your cash is as good as monopoly money to these people. Forget about writing checks. A credit card is somewhat of a convenience for you, but a lot more of a convenience for them.

Again with the data collection. A while back I was filling out online job apps, and every last one of them wanted my SSN. I can see having it when you actually land the job and need it for your I9 or W4, but until that point... I transposed a few digits to get past the "this field is required" bit. I think some HR laws and procedures need to change.

In essence, a lot of of business practices and policies need to be changed. Some credit card machines *still* print your credit card number on the receipt!

I and a few buddies entered a poker tourney up north a few months ago and one of us preregistered all of us on his card. Anyway I went to pay cash at registration but they said they had already charged his card. Ok, fine I'll just pay him cash. "wait sir heres a receipt" huh???? They hand me a printed receipt with his name, CC number, exp date, everything on it!!!! I was going to have some adult toys sent to his house, but thought better of it:)

My Visa and AMEX are at ZERO balance anything I buy gets paid off at the end of the month.

I OWN my house outright, I paid cash for my timeshare, I OWN all my cars outright.( 4 of them) Maybe I am not you're typical American but I am not in debt up to my eyeballs. I want to get an older 911/930 and will wait until I can pay cash.

I was raised to wait until I can afford something before I buy it. It made for a meager life early on but has rewarded me greatly as I approach the 40 year mark of my life.

That is why its so easy for me to spot fraud. I only hold 2 credit cards the AMEX gets used 99% of the time and paid off every 30 days. The Visa is for when AMEX is not accepted.

AMEX Vs. Visa?? When my Visa was canceled and replaced it took over a week to get a new card. When I did the same with my AMEX at 7 PM EST I had a new card in my hands at 10 AM EST the NEXT DAY.

BTW - The spell check option rocks.

Well - since we're tooting....

We (the wife and I) own both of our cars - paid for.

We pay the credit cards off every month; we let them track our spending in exchange for airline miles...

The only real debt we have for more than a month is our mortgage. We have a decent amount in savings and we have a budget that saves money every month.

You and I are not the typical Americans though. I went through phases of severe debt (severe in relation to my meger income) and will never do it again if I can help it.

Same here. I use my credit card for day-to-day convenience, but everything except my house is paid for.

Eliminate the ability of the "big three" credit agencies freely giving out your info without your written say-so. There is too much opportunity for abuse by clever hackers. No one requires your info unless you are planning on doing business with them (applying for a credit account, mortgage or such).

I have notified them in "return receipt required" ordering them not to diovulge my info. So far, so good. Far fewer "offers" for unrequested offers. And, when these come with a SASE, I return it with a two pound piece of scrap metal placed in said envelope.

Pester your representatives to initiate laws similar to the "do not call" for credit mongers. Enough people doing so might just light a fire.

this sounds good. How is this set-up?

Lendaddy

you would be surprised. South Africa imprisoned 413 citizens out of every 100000 in 2004. What is the USA statistic? I am also sure that many 3rd-world countries have higher rates.

Some offenders in SA are in jail awaiting trial because they (or the friends/family) cannot/ will not afford the equivalent of $30 - 50 bail, thereby costing the state (aka ME the taxpayer) about $20 per day for upwards of 3 months before the trial is heard.

Fortunately, identity theft is rare in SA. Mostly stolen credit cards, which are easily replaced and insured for false charges.

LeRoux

Edit: I actually found a source with world-wide statistics of prison populations. http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs2/r188.pdf

According to this list, the USA has the highest rate in the world at 686 per 100000!!!!!!!!!! WOW!. What is that attracts the scum?

Is there any disadvantage to putting a "fraud alert" on your credit records at the credit reporting agencies? Will it hamper my own uses of my own credit?

What does a "fraud alert" accomplish, anyway? How does that information make a difference?

I recently received notice that my information was in a database of alumni records, kept on a laptop that was stolen from UC Berkeley. The notice recommended placing a fraud alert on my credit reports.

one more argument for more effective boarder control.

Sounds like besides being about the same age, Jim and I were brought up similarly with a jaundiced eye towards debt. As Thom pointed out, if you travel (like me), you're going to have to use plastic and wade through alot of receipts.

Amity mentioned deposit fraud:
I'm not aware of any federal protection on deposit accounts wrt fraud/unauthorized transactions. More risk but less concealable than loan fraud. It's sort of a one time shot the thief has to wipe you out. With a loan, they can scale up the amount they "borrow" rather than limit themselves to the existing deposit balance on any one given day.

I've heard reputable people recommend shredding these so-called preapproved credit card solicitations. They're not really preapproved nor do they have anything on there useful except name and address. By shredding, I'm only protecting the credit grantors, not myself. They go in the garbage unopened, and ultimately to the dumpster at work.

Clark Howard frequently gives out a toll free number whereby you can opt out of pre-approved credit lists (90% of it he says). Not done that since the risk is not borne by me.

I've heard of a bill (fed?) that would allow credit grantors access to the big three bureaus only if you notified them first to allow access by the lender. Not sure how you would do that.

If it happened to me, I'd change my tune, probably. I'm a financial auditor by trade, so I keep on top of various accounts. I conclude, however, that it's pretty much dumb luck whether you or I get hit. There are many places the key information is in place for someone to make a believable fake identity. I'd rather it be credit fraud than deposit since the law is more on my side. The above stories scare me since I've never met anyone in real life that had these things happen.

PS-jyl's story made Clark Howard's show on many occasions. He talks about fraud alerts alot but I don't know what they really do.

I put a fraud alert on my credit report a while ago as a preventative measure.

Credit grantors are required to call my home phone and verify with me before opening any type of account. How does it work? No more credit card offers in the mail. I have no need for any more credit accounts, so no one has had to call me at home.

I got really ticked-off a couple of years ago when I bought a "fixer-upper" house. In the mailbox came a "pre-approved" credit card offer, with a spot to change the name or address! Attention anybody! Put your name on this piece of paper and charge whatever you want to the shmuck who just bought this empty house! And I wasn't supposed to be getting any mail there.

I put a fraud alert on my account.

When I checked my credit report, I see that several credit card companies have been checking my report monthly - e.g. Discover which keeps sending me offers.

Hopefully this will stop or reduce the solicitations.

I think the fraud alert is only good for a limited time - like 90 days - so I may have to keep renewing it.

Wait a minute: If someone uses your stolen credit card...and rings up $5100 worth of merchandise...by Federal Law, you are only responsible for $50 of it, if it was proven that the card was lost or stolen and if you contacted Discover Card as soon as you found out about it.

The problem is how easy your Social Security number is thrown around...

You call the F'in Cell Phone company, and they ask for your SS# to verify that its you. Who is the person on the other line that you are telling this to? Are you supposed to trust them?

Give the lackey the last four digits of the Social.