The Glade 4.0

I am now a victim of identity theft.

I don't feel like going into all the details right now, because it has been a long night so far.

The only 'good' is that I was notified within 4 hours of the account being opened which led to the finding of the other account that was opened yesterday. Two store credit cards (Home Depot and Sears), 3 purchases, almost $5000, All caught within a day. The accounts are closed and a fraud alert has been opened for my SS# on my credit report.

To be cliche, I feel so violated and vulnerable right now. There is a dude out there right now with my SS#, an ID with his pic and my name, and all of the necessary information to open an account.

Service counter girl from Home Depot remembered the guy and is already preparing her statement along with store management pulling the security tapes. Police report filed, but like I said, I don't feel safe right now.

I hate this world. So many assholes out there.

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This must be Thursday. I could never get the hang of Thursdays.

sorry to hear Foamy. I am glad you already have things in the works to rectify the situation.

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Darksiege
Traveller, Calé, Whisperer
Lead me not into temptation; for I know a shortcut

That is awful. Violated and vulnerable is how I would imagine it would feel...*shudder* that really sucks.
I hope they catch this guy real soon and that everything is wrapped up quickly so you and your wife don't have to waste any time worrying about this crap.

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"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Jesus of Nazareth

Title says it all, that blows.

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That sucks. I guess that is one thing people with crappy credit don't have to worry about.

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I met this six-year-old child, with this blank, pale, emotionless face and, the blackest eyes... the devil's eyes. I spent eight years trying to reach him, and then another seven trying to keep him locked up because I realized what was living behind that boy's eyes was purely and simply... evil

I had my credit card number stolen once a few years back. They charged like $2500 worth of stuff before I got the card closed. I even found out from one of the credit report companies that my personal info had been posted online somewhere (probably on a website made by ID thieves specifically FOR other ID thieves).

My SS# appears to be safe, but you never know . . .

One of the few good things about credit card companies (mine, at least) is that they get you cleaned up if something like this happens.

I know how you feel Foamy, I was a victim over 3 years ago (just before christmas). I think the card got skimmed at a gas station I'd gone to when I was broke (waiting for a paycheck to post next day) and on fumes...
Needless to say it was the debit/charge card...but they cleaned out our account....and the bank caught it in a day.
All the charges were in NY/NJ, while I was at work in Fla. Sadly it did take over a week to be made whole again.

I hope you get everything straight with the bank/card company quickly. I do hope the police prosecute his *** 9and any other accomplices).

Good luck!

Yeah, good luck. Theft of my identity was less harmful - all they did was take my debit card number and send it to Mexico City so some schmuck could charge sushi, McDonald's, and lattes. It was under $500, and we caught it pretty quickly, but the feeling is just horrible.

Sad to hear you got popped for more, and that it's likely they have other info on you, man. My sympathies.

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This cold and dark tormented hell
Is all I`ll ever know
So when you get to heaven
May the devil be the judge

Ugh, no fun, Foamy. Hope it gets fixed ASAP.

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Women are from Hoboken, men are from Trenton. ~ Jimmy Kimmel

Man, that sucks Foamy.

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Holy shitsnacks!

I'm sorry Foamy glad it was caught soon, amazes me how fast they can spend thousands of dollars.

Kirra hugs for you and Oonagh!

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Dream as if you'll live forever...
...Live as if you'll die tomorrow

Vivere Senza Rimpianti

That sucks.

I always check the openings of ATMs to make sure there isn't a card reader. If the opening protrudes from the ATM, then always give it a tug.

That sucks Foamy. I'm glad you caught it quickly though. Hopefully that will spare you a lot of the agony that normally accompanies such things.

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"Hysterical children shrieking about right-wing anything need to go sit in the corner and be quiet while the adults are talking."

Most of the scumbag thieves realize they are on borrowed time before the fraud becomes known and get what they can while they can. They also don't have to worry about paying it back, so the hesitation over whether it is really worth it never happens.

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The U. S. Constitution doesn't guarantee happiness, only the pursuit of it. You have to catch up with it yourself. B. Franklin

"A mind needs books like a sword needs a whetstone." -- Tyrion Lannister, A Game of Thrones

Add another $4000 to that from Best Buy.

Done on the same day as the others.

*urge to kill rising*

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This must be Thursday. I could never get the hang of Thursdays.

You aren't responsible for any of that right? What happens, do the credit cards write it off?

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Dream as if you'll live forever...
...Live as if you'll die tomorrow

Vivere Senza Rimpianti

It depends on the company, I think, and Foamy may be responsible for paying it, then getting it reimbursed or reversed, depending on the outcome of the investigation. Mine was through a Credit Union, and they were really mellow about getting the money back in my account. Took a a couple of weeks, however.

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This cold and dark tormented hell
Is all I`ll ever know
So when you get to heaven
May the devil be the judge

Just found two more accounts opened in this bastard's two day blitz of my credit.

I am losing my mind.

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This must be Thursday. I could never get the hang of Thursdays.

Oh man, I bet you are l-i-v-i-d! Are they going after him full throttle? I hope so.

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"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Jesus of Nazareth

My credit report is now locked. Even I can't get credit in my name, for now.

Rundown of damage done:

Home Depot: Two stores $3204 - Flooring, other various and sundry home improvement items

Sears: $1874 - Samsung 40" Plasma, Ipod touch, Surround sound system

Best Buy: $3906.03 (Macbook, 52" plasma, Bluray player, Monster cable and a warranty on the Laptop

Walmart: $2444.62 - 46" Sony LCD, HP laptop, Prepaid phone card(s), Ipod Touch

Lowes: $2287.45 - Not sure of purchases here

Good news:
He is on surveillance at one of the Home Depot stores. Oonagh and I spoke with the Customer Svc. rep who opened the account. She remembered him quite well and was preparing her statement the very day he was in the store and is having the instore tapes pulled. Funny thing that the Cust. Svc. Rep told us. It struck her as odd that this man (6' tall black man) had an Italian last name. She didn't say it, obviously because he had the ID to back it up, but it did cross her mind. (She was right)


Best Buy: We have the store manager in the loop. We have the name of the associate who made the sale. They are compiling a full disc of this man on surveillance in their store (quite clear, from what I have been told)

Walmart: Spoke with Loss Prevention manager and he is compiling video (again, quite clear) of this person instore

Lowes: Worked with store manager. Compiled video surveillance of him instore again, and (!!!!) a vehicle description.

And I forget where we got this tidbit, but we have the PA Drivers License # from the ID that he is using.

So yeah, Oonagh and I have been doing a fair bit of detective work over the past few days. The detective assigned to my case sounded pretty thrilled that we have gotten this much for him. Going to see him on Thursday.

EDIT - Almost forgot the additional Sears charge and Ikea charge that he attempted after the fraud alerts and locks were in place. So we stopped him for now.

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This must be Thursday. I could never get the hang of Thursdays.

Holy cow dude thats like 14 grand!!!
And I complained about $246 sheesh!
Sounds like you guys have a lot to go on...I hope they catch this guy and quickly and then throw the book at him.
Sorry you have to go through all this dude.

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"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Jesus of Nazareth

Foamy, he seriously bought the extended warranty on the laptop (stupid to begin with)? Don't you need to complete your address info on there?

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That would be cool, but I don't think so...I bought the extended warranty on something for my husband and it was just a little packet that they scanned at the register. As long as you had that packet with the receipt you have your extended warranty.

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"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Jesus of Nazareth

Yup, we asked about that in hopes that he used his address for the warranty, but apparentely not. The warranty is in my name and address too.

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This must be Thursday. I could never get the hang of Thursdays.

I am on an emotional roller coaster right now.

I got a call yesterday that I got a new job through my company (another account) so my job is safe, for now.

As soon as I got the news and told Oonagh, I broke down and cried.

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This must be Thursday. I could never get the hang of Thursdays.