Identity thieves just tried to get me

Today's post was supposed to be the answer to a question from a Tweeter.Then I got a robocall from some company obviously trying to run a scam on credit card holders, so I'm going to give you all a warning.

The call came from 228-209-9560. A recording says they're calling from "account services" and want to help holders of Visa, Master Card or American Express cards lower their interest rates. First tip off: a legit credit card company would NEVER call you like this. If you're doing business with them, they wouldn't use such a generic message. They already know what kind of card you have. Secondly, credit card companies these days aren't in the business of calling anybody and volunteering to lower their rates.

The recording asks you to press 1 to have your rates lowered or press 2 to be dropped from their list. When you get to this point: HANG UP. A common trick of tele-scammers is to ask you a question and have you press 1 or 2 in reply to that question. They record your reply and use it to "slam" you, changing account information on your phone or credit cards. Giving them any information could, and likely would, result in identity theft.

For the benefit of the blog, I took the risk and pressed 1 to see if I'd get a live person. I did. That guy, "Steve", asked me, "Did you press 1 to have your rates lowered today?" No, Steve, I pressed 1 to find out who was calling me.

Click. Steve hung up. Must not have been in his script. I Googled the number and found out that these folks have been running the same scam on others. Here's a message board with people who have gotten the same calls. I also called the number back from a landline and got a recording that said it was disconnected.

Remember, if you get this call or a similar one, don't answer it or hang up immediately. It is a scam. If you're so inclined (and you should be), call your state's attorney general's office and register a complaint. These people are predators out to steal your money. They need to be found and locked up.


images courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net

The Visa card I never applied for

I wrote before about why it's still important to open snail mail, even though it's an antiquated way of communicating. Last week I got a lesson in why that's important.

I got an envelope from my bank, National City, a few weeks ago. I let it lay around because I figured it was just a bank statement, which I check online anyway. But before I shredded it, something told me to read it first. Turns out, it was a letter telling me that the National City Visa card I'd applied for was denied.

There were several problems : 1) I never applied for a National City Visa, or any other credit cards for that matter. In fact, I have only one credit card and that's the only one I plan on having. 2) I've never been turned down for credit for any reason. This part was tertiary to the fact that it appears someone stole my identity, but it bruised my ego nonetheless: not only did somebody get me for my credentials but now I wasn't even worth their time in victimizing me. WTF?

So I called the bank. A guy in customer service told me to call their credit department. The credit department told me my application came from a branch, which turned out to be the branch on the same block as my office. When I called, the woman who processed the application said it was a "referral" from a teller -- in other words I'd been asked if I wanted a card one day when I was in the bank and the teller sent my application over. Except that I'd never been asked. And that I wasn't present when the application was done. And that there was no signature from me on anything stating that I wanted the card.

Nice.

So now I'm looking for a new bank (I'd switch back to my old one except they just bought National City), and fighting to get a negative inquiry off of my credit report. Do yourself a favor: open your mail!!!

My own identity stolen?

Nothing makes you check into your own finances like moving. From all the hidden expenditures you wind up paying out of pocket (I spent $172 at Wal Mart last night on a Swiffer, cleaning supplies, toilet paper, some Hungry Man dinners and a wireless router...wtf?), to the credit checks you go through when renting or buying a new place, moving requires careful financial balancing.

That last point, the credit check on a new apartment, tripped me up thought. Yesterday I came home to a letter from the credit bureaus, which they're required to send you after a company like a mortgage firm or landlord, runs your credit history. These letters usually don't disclose anything you don't know, but in my case, I found all kinds of things that didn't look right: delinquencies on accounts that I don't believe I've ever opened and scariest of all, a listing of a "known alias" of Keith E. Reed. Mind you, if I were going to use an alias, it certainly wouldn't be my real name with only the middle initial changed.

Seems I have some phone calls to make to investigate this over the next week. I'll let you know how it turns out. This is yet another example, for me, of why it's necessary to stay on top of your finances, and especially, open your snail mail!


On another note: On Facebook, I got some great responses to yesterday's post about what to do with a lot of spare cash that I thought I'd share here.

Charles from Baltimore wrote:

I wouldn't invest in a media company at this point. Nor would I be calling my investment broker. Hell if anything I'd be looking to invest in anything Obama in Washington. It's the only thing people will actually buy. Maybe buy some stock in EA Sports Software.

Electronic Arts, huh? Not a bad idea, since I spend enough money on video games anyway.

Charmaine in DC said:

I would invest...invest...invest! It would be in something safe, of course...buy some savings bonds, CDs, start an IRA. And of course, I would pay off all debt...go on a shopping spree...oh why start me up with this?

OK, Charmaine. I said a lot of cash, not unlimited! You can't do it all.

Amy from DC wrote:

I would definitely invest most of it, clear up my school loans and a few other debts, and then go and buy my G37.....It's amazing how if you would have asked that question let's say ten years ago the answer would have probably been different for most of us, but would have definitely included shopping....

More investing, less debt...new car?? OK, well, at least you can get a good deal on one these days.

Why you need to actually open snail mail

About five years ago, I started doing most of my transactions electronically. I rarely carry more than $20 cash, mostly using my debit card for transactions. I do most of my banking online, except for deposits, and I use e-payments for every bill.

That left me with a nasty habit of not opening mail when it comes, and when I was cleaning out my apartment over the weekend, I discovered why that's a horrible idea.

In one envelope that had been laying around my apartment for about a month were a bunch of black checks from my credit union. Blank checks with my name and address. If they had been cashed, the amount would have been added to my The credit union sent a letter saying they would be a great gift to someone for the holidays...yeah, for whatever thief might have gotten their hands on them.

In another envelope was a "check" from JP Morgan Chase Bank for $10. The fine print said that the check was really an offer to enroll in something called PrivacyGuard, ironically a $64.99 semi-annual (twice-a-year) service that's supposed to help you protect your credit. The scary thing is I don't have a credit card, loan or banking relationship with JP Morgan Chase, so I'll be calling them this morning to see if there's already been some tomfoolery.

Bottom line. Check your mail. If anything looks suspicious, call the company and have it checked out. Shred anything that comes in the mail with your name, account numbers or anything else personally identifiable on it.

Now a quick note: I'm taking the rest of this week off from blogging to take care of the rest of my move to Cleveland. I'll be back on Monday, Dec. 15.

A tale of identity theft

Have you been a victim of identity theft (yet)? Chances are you're at least at risk since thieves have learned how to do everything from track the keystrokes on your computer to spoof your credit card number when you swipe it at the store.

It happened recently to my friend Nancy in Chicago. Here's her story, with some details edited because the case hasn't been fully resolved yet. I hope it helps some of you avoid identity theft.

While online checking my bank account to dispute a five dollar bill from the doctor's which I already paid (yes I am that cheap) I noticed two other charges on my account. One for $xxx and another for $xxx both going to Comcast cable. First point is I am not nor have I ever been a Comcast customer. My current cable is through RCN. Second point, how much cable are you watching to amount almost [several hundred dollars] in charges?

Day 1

I called [my bank] and alerted fraud on my accounts. Then I called Comcast to try and track it. No such luck until the payments actually drop. But was given great advice on what to do. I then with over to the bank and camped out in their lobby until a banker would see me. He told me nothing could be done until the charges actually dropped.

Side note- Good banks contact you if there is funny activity, make sure your bank is one of those. But of course mine didn't. So I have decided to change banks as well!!

Day 2

I went to Chase bank to open brand new accounts and inquired about the fraud protection practices (If you have Chase make sure you take full advantage of their FREE fraud alert program). I then went back over to my old bank to file the claim. At that point they told me it would be 10 business days before I got my money back.

Nancy came up with her own list of things that might prevent you from being an identity theft victim, which I'm posting below. If you have another helpful tip please post it in the comments section.

Nancy's identity theft tips:

1. Contact your online bank (make sure you check your accounts at least every other day).
2. If you can figure out the merchant give them a call and see what they can do (Gather as much information as you can!).
3. Go to an actual branch location and speak with a banker to begin the paperwork to file fraudulent claims (make sure you get copies of everything).
4. Have new accounts created for you (Before you do so, decide if you want to stick with that bank. Think about how they treated you and how they approached the situation. If they sucked it up big time, ask family and friends they opinions on their banks).
5. Make sure you cancel all direct deposits from your job and any other automatic withdrawals going into the fraudulent account. If you are close to payday with this happens make sure you have the bank allow for deposits in when they freeze your accounts.
6. Contact the 3 big credit bureaus and place a fraud alert on your credit for 90 days. You can click on this link for more information www.consumer.gov/idtheft.
7. Contact social security and place a fraud alert on your social security number.
   
8. Contact the police and file a report and make sure you say you want charges filed. Make sure you stay on them.
   
9. GO PAPERLESS - Pay all of your bills from your bank site. If you do not know how to do so as your bank to show you. The less web sites your information is the less likely your account can get hacked. This also gets rid of checks which can be stolen and whatever else have you.