What steps to take after an identity theft attempt
April 5, 2018 11:30 AM Subscribe
Last Wed. someone tried to use my SSN number and date of birth to apply for a credit card. I have another card with this issuer and received a call from their fraud detection unit the next day.
I am trying to work through what are the best steps to take to protect my credit (and other aspects of my identity) at this point. Would appreciate recommendations from folks who may have dealt with similar situations (my thoughts on this below the fold ..)
) Credit protection - It looks like I can do one of two things -
- I have filed a police report. Using this report I can ask agencies to place a fraud alert on my account for the next 7 years.
- I can ask the credit agencies to freeze my credit. Based on what I am reading on mefi and elsewhere online, it may not be as much of an inconvenience as I originally thought it may be.
Does it make sense to place fraud alert with the agencies or should I simply freeze credit? If I freeze credit, is there any value to setting up fraud alert too?
2) Privacy monitoring
- I have been reviewing available options online; Identity Shield seems to have somewhat broader screening at relatively lower cost. Do you have any opinion on these guys? (Or if you have good experience with another vendor?)
- I also like the idea of Amex Credit secure ( https://feeservices.americanexpress.com/premium/credit-report-monitoring/home.do), but it deals with only the credit aspect (but if I end up freezing my credit, is there really any benefit in buying credit secure?)
Would love to have any other suggestion or recommendation that you may have on this subject.
) Credit protection - It looks like I can do one of two things -
- I have filed a police report. Using this report I can ask agencies to place a fraud alert on my account for the next 7 years.
- I can ask the credit agencies to freeze my credit. Based on what I am reading on mefi and elsewhere online, it may not be as much of an inconvenience as I originally thought it may be.
Does it make sense to place fraud alert with the agencies or should I simply freeze credit? If I freeze credit, is there any value to setting up fraud alert too?
2) Privacy monitoring
- I have been reviewing available options online; Identity Shield seems to have somewhat broader screening at relatively lower cost. Do you have any opinion on these guys? (Or if you have good experience with another vendor?)
- I also like the idea of Amex Credit secure ( https://feeservices.americanexpress.com/premium/credit-report-monitoring/home.do), but it deals with only the credit aspect (but if I end up freezing my credit, is there really any benefit in buying credit secure?)
Would love to have any other suggestion or recommendation that you may have on this subject.
Response by poster: Yes. I am in USA. Thank you for the pointer. I'll go through it.
posted by justlooking at 12:11 PM on April 5, 2018
posted by justlooking at 12:11 PM on April 5, 2018
Best answer: Credit freeze.
I've done it. Small inconvenience. Big peace of mind.
posted by elf27 at 12:34 PM on April 5, 2018
I've done it. Small inconvenience. Big peace of mind.
posted by elf27 at 12:34 PM on April 5, 2018
Best answer: Credit freeze. Do file a police report, too, as it's good to have should things pop up later. Get in the habit of looking at your credit report every couple months, too - it's much easier to fix things if you catch them early. At least through Experian, you can set up alerts where every time someone tries to use your credit, you'll get an email. I've found this reassuring to get a notification when I legitimately try to use my credit.
I had my identity stolen a couple years ago (someone unsuccessfully tried to open 10 (!) credit cards and a cell service account using my name/DOB). I put a freeze on my account, started monitoring my credit every few weeks, and contacted all the credit cards where the thief had attempted to gain credit. Some made the process very easy, while others required letters (some via mail, one via fax) of me saying that it was a fraudulent attempt, which they eventually removed from my credit report.
Several months later, an actual collection appear on my credit, and I was thankful to have the police report in hand, as it made it much easier to clear my name.
Also, file your taxes early, before a thief can try to do so using your SSN.
posted by writermcwriterson at 12:57 PM on April 5, 2018 [2 favorites]
I had my identity stolen a couple years ago (someone unsuccessfully tried to open 10 (!) credit cards and a cell service account using my name/DOB). I put a freeze on my account, started monitoring my credit every few weeks, and contacted all the credit cards where the thief had attempted to gain credit. Some made the process very easy, while others required letters (some via mail, one via fax) of me saying that it was a fraudulent attempt, which they eventually removed from my credit report.
Several months later, an actual collection appear on my credit, and I was thankful to have the police report in hand, as it made it much easier to clear my name.
Also, file your taxes early, before a thief can try to do so using your SSN.
posted by writermcwriterson at 12:57 PM on April 5, 2018 [2 favorites]
All good advice above.
I don't have a recommendation or a suggestion, but I do have an important point to remember: it is the financial institution that someone is attempting to defraud, it is not you. The fraud can only happen if they fail to adequately fulfil their responsibility of determining if the person attempting the transaction is the person they claim to be.
The moniker "identity theft" is a very successful attempt to move the responsibility for the problem to you. Mitchell & Webb have a great sketch on it.
posted by bergnotburg at 2:41 PM on April 5, 2018 [1 favorite]
I don't have a recommendation or a suggestion, but I do have an important point to remember: it is the financial institution that someone is attempting to defraud, it is not you. The fraud can only happen if they fail to adequately fulfil their responsibility of determining if the person attempting the transaction is the person they claim to be.
The moniker "identity theft" is a very successful attempt to move the responsibility for the problem to you. Mitchell & Webb have a great sketch on it.
posted by bergnotburg at 2:41 PM on April 5, 2018 [1 favorite]
Post Equifax, I'd say that doing a credit freeze is just good common sense for everyone, but especially in your case where your SSN is floating around.
posted by Aleyn at 9:38 PM on April 5, 2018
posted by Aleyn at 9:38 PM on April 5, 2018
Response by poster: Thanks all for your advise and recommendations. I successfully placed a freeze with all three credit reporting agencies now.
posted by justlooking at 10:47 AM on April 8, 2018
posted by justlooking at 10:47 AM on April 8, 2018
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posted by blnkfrnk at 11:53 AM on April 5, 2018