Identity Theft, any help appreciated......

[volfan2024]

My son (lived in Tennessee his whole life) was a victim of identity theft.Someone opened a bank account in South Carolina using his ss#.They maxed it out and closed the account.My son has talked to the local police.They found out the name who illegally opened it.It was a lady.he bought a house this past March and the identity theft happened last November.This ticks me off because to me it should be bank incompetence as opposed to identity theft.Don't you need a picture id?Does anyone have any advice or familiar with necessary procedure to follow from this point.Thanks!

 

[GAVol]

This has become a HUGE problem. I'm about to begin work on an Identity theft endorsement for the insurance company I work for:

Here are some quick things to think about:

clarkhoward.com: Clarchives clarkhoward - Clarchives Identity Theft Guide

 

[volfan2024]

Thanks GaVol.You are right.It is a huge problem.I just talked to him and he said the bank stuff was cleared up.

 

[lawgator1]

Don't know if this helps, but a couple of weeks ago I lost my wallet. A friend (cop) suggested I contact the credit bureuas and place a fraud alert on my credit, just in case. This alert lets any credit grantor know there may be a problem and they are then supposed to contact me personally on my cell phone before opening any new accounts.

Now, I called Transunion and they had an automated line. I gave my ss #, DOB, and then they automatically place it with them and the two other bureaus. Took about 5 minutes and sure enough I got confirmation of it in less than a week. It will stay on there for 90 days. If memory serves, they allow you to make the alert last longer if you have in fact been the victim of identity theft.

 

[cd12]

I went from working an ID theft case once ever blue moon too sometimes 15 a week!

 

[volfan2024]

Thanks guys!I hope they get punished to the fullest extent of the law.This is just blatant, premeditated behavior hands down!

 

[lawgator1]

Thanks guys!I hope they get punished to the fullest extent of the law.This is just blatant, premeditated behavior hands down!

I have tangential involvement with it in some cases I defend on professional liability and my impression is that there are two types of these criminal efforts. The first is the one or two time use of a debit card or something to try to get some dough or pay for gas. Not much happens to them. the second is an organized effort to totally steal identity and, though tough to catch and prosecute, they are trying harder and harder, especially the feds.

For example, tough to see some otherwise decent person who sold a house then, on her own initiative, sit down and figure out how to use identity information to obtain and abuse credit. Tends to be at the direction of a much more sophisticated person or organization. Those are the folks the feds really need to be after.

 

[volfan2024]

I have tangential involvement with it in some cases I defend on professional liability and my impression is that there are two types of these criminal efforts. The first is the one or two time use of a debit card or something to try to get some dough or pay for gas. Not much happens to them. the second is an organized effort to totally steal identity and, though tough to catch and prosecute, they are trying harder and harder, especially the feds.

For example, tough to see some otherwise decent person who sold a house then, on her own initiative, sit down and figure out how to use identity information to obtain and abuse credit. Tends to be at the direction of a much more sophisticated person or organization. Those are the folks the feds really need to be after.

I concur LG.

 

[rwemyss]

The internet has by far expedited this process. When it comes to having your own information stolen (my debit card info was somehow stolen a month or two ago) be sure to be using a large bank that watches for such activity. AmSouth caught on immediately because the purchases didn't match my standard buying practices and they immediately called me.

On the other hand my g/f had her debit and credit cards stolen from her purse, she didn't realize it for 3-4 days, and they had cleaned out her checking account as well as rang up a few hundred dollars on her credit card. Her bank (Compass) didn't catch the crazy purchases that were made with her debit card.

I also don't have any credit cards myself... of course, this is a different type of fraud from what your son has had to deal with, but still in the same strain. I hear it is a real pain to clear up your credit reports from this crap.

 

[volfan2024]

The internet has by far expedited this process. When it comes to having your own information stolen (my debit card info was somehow stolen a month or two ago) be sure to be using a large bank that watches for such activity. AmSouth caught on immediately because the purchases didn't match my standard buying practices and they immediately called me.

On the other hand my g/f had her debit and credit cards stolen from her purse, she didn't realize it for 3-4 days, and they had cleaned out her checking account as well as rang up a few hundred dollars on her credit card. Her bank (Compass) didn't catch the crazy purchases that were made with her debit card.

I also don't have any credit cards myself... of course, this is a different type of fraud from what your son has had to deal with, but still in the same strain. I hear it is a real pain to clear up your credit reports from this crap.

Yeah, here my son has been going to college, about to get his masters and some lazy idiot crimminal tries to tear down everything he's been working years for.He's just starting in his field of study.Pretty rotten.

 

[USAF_Vol]

This has become a HUGE problem. I'm about to begin work on an Identity theft endorsement for the insurance company I work for:

Hmmm, Insurance Company....in Macon......I know where you work now:neener2:

 

[OrangeEmpire]

My wife and I had our debit card number stolen while we were on vacation in Arkansas visiting my brother.