Identity Theft - Again!

[xmasbaby75]

I just have to rant a bit since my debit card was compromised yet again! Back in April, somehow, my debit card number was used to make a bunch of purchases from "playstation" ... they totaled about $700 and needless to say it was a real pain to straighten out, and I still ended up losing out on about half of the overdrawn fees (around $200) ... anyway, my debit card was destroyed and I was issued a new one. Fast forward to today ...

I noticed my debit card was used again - this time for AOL (which I have never had) and a few charges from the online service "find leagal forms", and about $250 from "Teleblend" which is some sort of phone service. So, here we go again - calling the companies, trying to find out info, closing my debit card, trying to get a new one issued .. etc, etc. BUT, this time, the companies were much more helpful, and I was able to find out that not only do they have my debit card#, but they are also using my name and address! Scary, right?

I also found out the email address they are using (it is a live.co.uk address - which I found out anyone can get for free through hotmail) and I also have a local phone number they used (which is hooked up to a fax) ... of course, the phone co. will not tell me who that phone # is registered too. ARGHH! I am planning on filing a police report this time since I have a bit more info, but I also wanted to see if this has happened to anyone else here? What else can I do?

I also found this site today ... https://usa.visa.com/personal/security/vbv/index.jsp - has anyone used this? It seems like it could possibly help, so I will definately give it a try. I also have all sorts of other identity protection from the bank - but of course, nothing was flagged as an alert, I had to discover it on my own - so what good is that? UGH - just had to rant a bit - it's been a long day!

[Beamers Mom]

Wow!
Sometimes you can google a phone number - just put " around the number - like "800-123-4567" I have googled many phone numbers that show up on my Caller Id and have no idea who they are.

[Lisa and Pic]

What an awful day for you and sorry you are going through this for a second time. Hope the police can help, since you have more information.

[xmasbaby75]

Thanks ... Actually, I did google the number - and of course it does not come up with a name - only the city ... I called the number and it is hooked up to a fax machine - I was hoping someone would answer.

The crazy thing is, I cannot figure out how they are getting my information - I have one debit card, and it is always with me. I thought maybe someone in a store where I used my card might have done it - but they would not have my address ... the only thing I can figure is that the info I'm typing into the computer (when making purchases) is being stolen somehow. I only make purchases on secure websites - so I am completely stumped on this one.

[speleogirl37]

Have you tried reverse phone lookup? Free Reverse Phone Number Lookup | WhitePages

I use this sometimes when someone calls, and I don't know the number. It will tell me where they are calling from. If you pay I think $1.99 it will tell you who it is. I don't know how legit that part is, as I have never pd to find out. But maybe it is something to look into.

[xmasbaby75]

Originally Posted by speleogirl37

Have you tried reverse phone lookup? Free Reverse Phone Number Lookup | WhitePages

I use this sometimes when someone calls, and I don't know the number. It will tell me where they are calling from. If you pay I think $1.99 it will tell you who it is. I don't know how legit that part is, as I have never pd to find out. But maybe it is something to look into.

Yes, I tried that -- it came back with "No Name Found"

[Rachael x]

Wow that is VERY scary stuff!
I heard that there is some sort of virus which copies your bank details when you are making online purchases or using online banking.
Do you have an anti-virus on your computer?
I also heard of people 'cloning' cards, say for instance you were in a shop of cafe and you paid with your debit card.. some places take the card away to swipe it and can swipe it in another machine which clones it.
These are rumours but are scary! I hope you get this sorted out soon.

[joann1166]

If they have your name, they can get your address very easily over the internet. I'm sorry that it happened again. That is very scary.

[xmasbaby75]

I do have virus protection on both my home and work computers -- but that doesn't mean a virus isn't possible - it has happened before, and of course, the anti-virus software is the first thing it attacks! It just seems strange that this would happen to me twice in only 4 months time ... but anything is possible!

I have heard of the card cloning scams - in fact, a year or two ago, this was done in our supermarket! Eventually they were caught, but hundereds of credit card numbers were stolen. I've been through several debit card numbers since then.

[boopster]

I hate to ask, but is there anyone in your household who might be getting their hands on your card? If you're using a wireless router, is it password protected and encrypted? It's very easy for someone within range of your router to pick up all the data going back and forth and identify credit/debit card info. Here's an article about encrypting your router:

Why You Should Encrypt Your Wireless Router

[107barney]

Originally Posted by xmasbaby75

Thanks ... Actually, I did google the number - and of course it does not come up with a name - only the city ... I called the number and it is hooked up to a fax machine - I was hoping someone would answer.

The crazy thing is, I cannot figure out how they are getting my information - I have one debit card, and it is always with me. I thought maybe someone in a store where I used my card might have done it - but they would not have my address ... the only thing I can figure is that the info I'm typing into the computer (when making purchases) is being stolen somehow. I only make purchases on secure websites - so I am completely stumped on this one.

Identity theft can be a mess to clean up and is better avoided to the extent possible.

Online games can compromise your identify including facebook games and put you at risk for identify theft because the software you download installs spyware and malware on your computer and extracts personally identifiable information to steal your identity.

Shopping online also stores your data - you type in your user name and password and if there is malware/spyware on your computer, it easily takes this information.

Using a credit card with fraud detection is very useful and citibank has done an excellent job for us. I've closed my account 3 times this year for suspected fraud transactions when the card was in my possession. It usually happens after I travel and use my card in airports/hotels which are meccas for identify theives. I also shop online with only a virtual credit card number - a service from citibank - so that my real numbers are never put into the computer. I do not receive paper statements in my mail and any piece of paper with an account number on it or my name/address etc is put through a cross-cut shredder.

Everyone should change their passwords routinely and use letters, numbers and symbol combinations.

As for dealing with it, sounds like you did most of what can be done. Here is what the FTC has to say about it.
DEFEND: Recover From Identity Theft - Deter. Detect. Defend. Avoid ID Theft

[MI Yorkielover]

Two or three years ago my husband bought gas with his debit card and his card was compromised. An employee at the Wesco gas station where he used it had stolen quite a few peoples credit card numbers and made charges in Chicago. They were operating in a three state area. We had $1500 worth of out of state charges on our card but fortunately for us Chase Visa, where we pay extra for a security program, deleted all the charges and followed up with the police and the culprits were caught. They did all the work, caught it before it appeared on our bill and we never had another problem.

[107barney]

Originally Posted by MI Yorkielover

Two or three years ago my husband bought gas with his debit card and his card was compromised. An employee at the Wesco gas station where he used it had stolen quite a few peoples credit card numbers and made charges in Chicago. They were operating in a three state area. We had $1500 worth of out of state charges on our card but fortunately for us when we reported it to Chase Visa, where we pay extra for a security program, they deleted all the charges and followed up with the police and the culprits were caught. They did all the work, caught it before it appeared on our bill and we never had another problem.

Yes gas stations have been another issue for me - I use it myself at the pump and the next thing I know I have like $300 in charges I have to dispute.

[OwnedByJezebel]

The numbers that come up on caller ID can be spoofed or the person that used your card could have made up that number when using it to place their fraudulent order, so the phone number you have may not lead anywhere.

You need to be sure that you don't have a keylogger on your computer. How to Remove Keylogger Software | eHow.com

[xmasbaby75]

Originally Posted by OwnedByJezebel

The numbers that come up on caller ID can be spoofed or the person that used your card could have made up that number when using it to place their fraudulent order, so the phone number you have may not lead anywhere.

You need to be sure that you don't have a keylogger on your computer. How to Remove Keylogger Software | eHow.com

Great link - thanks!!