Victim of Identity Theft

[DynamiteRave]

Yes.. I am.

I received a bogus email from paypal saying my account had been compromised and then like an idiot, even though I did notice there was not https:// on my browser (Only http:// and paypal uses https on their entire site), I just threw all my information in there. Firefox decided not to tell me this was a risky site until AFTER I had sent all my information.

Right after I did that (As well as some crying) I put a lifelock on my account (Check it out: Identity Theft Prevention – Identity Theft Protection – Stop Identity Theft) called my bank and got a new checking account number and a new card number.

Anything else I should do? I just don't want to be royally screwed since they have my SSN as well.

[jdlea]

There's some thing that you can do to make it so that if you are notified anytime anyone uses your SSN. I don't remember what it's called, but you would get a phone call, if say, you buy a car or apply for an apt. You should definitely look into that.

Originally Posted by DynamiteRave

Yes.. I am.

I received a bogus email from paypal saying my account had been compromised and then like an idiot, even though I did notice there was not https:// on my browser (Only http:// and paypal uses https on their entire site), I just threw all my information in there. Firefox decided not to tell me this was a risky site until AFTER I had sent all my information.

Right after I did that (As well as some crying) I put a lifelock on my account (Check it out: Identity Theft Prevention – Identity Theft Protection – Stop Identity Theft) called my bank and got a new checking account number and a new card number.

Anything else I should do? I just don't want to be royally screwed since they have my SSN as well.

[hooskins]

I see ads for identity theft protection services and stuff like that, I do not know much more and I hope you figure what needs to be done.

[DynamiteRave]

Yup, you both are right, that's what I put on my account. They said that the fraud alerts are set on the 3 major credit bureaus. If anyone goes to open any credit, issue a card or request a higher credit line, I get notified first.

Basically if anyone goes to mess with my credit, they're fucked.

I just hope it works.

[riggins44]

Fraud alerts do work. Just recently had a customer (that personally knew) which finance institution wanted to talk to due to a fraud alert flag.

I'd check my credit report from time to time as a precaution.

[saden1]

You need to add a fraud alert message to your credit report pronto. Contract all three Credit Bureau and tell them to perform verification before any new credit is issued.

I have a fraud alert on my report and it works pretty well, sometimes it's a pain but it's well worth having even if you haven't been a victim of fraud. Why wait for fraud to happen before you place alerts? It's free after all.

Equifax: Credit Reports, Credit Scores, Protection Against Identity Theft
TransUnion – Credit Report & Credit Score, Credit Bureau, Free Credit Monitoring Trial
Experian | Free Credit Report and Credit Score

[DynamiteRave]

Originally Posted by saden1

You need to add a fraud alert message to your credit report pronto. Contract all three Credit Bureau and tell them to perform verification before any new credit is issued.

I have a fraud alert on my report and it works pretty well, sometimes it's a pain but it's well worth having even if you haven't been a victim of fraud. Why wait for fraud to happen before you place alerts? It's free after all.

Equifax: Credit Reports, Credit Scores, Protection Against Identity Theft
TransUnion – Credit Report & Credit Score, Credit Bureau, Free Credit Monitoring Trial
Experian | Free Credit Report and Credit Score

Already on it. Lifelock sets fraud alerts on them. I didn't know it was free but I don't mind paying.

After being so stupid and just throwing my information around, I'm being anal and trying to do whatever it takes to be extra careful now.

[saden1]

Why pay Lifelock $10 a month (presumably for life)? Call the Credit Bureau directly and tell them to place a fraud alert on your account (they probably have an online method of doing it too). They have to provide this service for free by law.

Lifelock doesn't provide any meaningful service that's not freely available. If you want to reduce unsolicited credit offers you can do it via optoutprescreen.com or call 1-888-5OPTOUT and reduce junkmail via DMA Choice Home. You can do it all by yourself and save some money.