Stolen Identity

[kari]

I did a search and didn't find a thread specifically for this, but if it exists, please point me in the right direction. Thanks.

As for what's going on, I just found out that someone has opened and defaulted on an account using DH's SSN. I have no idea where to start fixing this.

I just tried to order free credit reports, but I guess not enough time has elapsed since the last one. Should I just go ahead and pay for one?

oh btw, the way it started: we received a letter addressed to a person's name that we didn't know. I wrote 'not at this address' and put it back in the mailbox, not thinking about it. Today, there was a message on our ans. mach from a debt collector and I called them back to tell them that person didn't live there and they told me that there was an account with DH's SSN with this person's name.

I have no idea what to do :(

Happy f#$%ing new year. :mad:

[jesvet]

OH NO!!!

I am so sorry you are going through this. I thought I remembered a thread about people who have been fighting similar things, I'll see if I can find it for you.

I am SO sorry.

[LLB0526]

The Federal Trade Commission has a website that walks you through what you should do if your identity is stolen:

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/

I would start there.

I'm so sorry this happened. It happened to a friend of mine and it's not a fun process trying to work through it.

[kari]

THANK YOU!

I know, I'm just 'wah' right now. :(

[tgray99]

I had this happen. The CC (credit card, not Constant Chatter) people told me that the first step is filing a police report. Good luck getting it fixed.

[kari]

tgray99

thanks!

[MichelleRenee]

When we were buying our house something turned up on DH's credit report for a cell phone company he never used. It was his SSN and a different spelling of his last name. They told us to file a police report and we did. A few months later we found out it was a family member who intentionally used DH's info thinking that replacing an "s" in his last name with a "c" would keep it off of his credit report.

Sorry you are dealing with this. Once we filed the police report and sent our info in it was a fairly quick process to get it off our credit report.

[angel17]

Before you get all riled up - did the debt collector read you the SS number or did he/she ask you to confirm it?

My last name is not usual in this country. A few years ago someone called the house claiming that I had defaulted on a store account and even claimed they had bounced checks from me on a bank account (that was not mine). The person on the phone refused to believe when I said it wasn't me & sai they were going to send the police to arrest me. I didn't get scared but got really mad. My uncle went with me to the bank and while they also refused to give me any information they did confirm that while the person they wanted had the same first and last name the middle initial was incorrect and the date of birth was also off (but uncannily close - may/date/different year while mine was a different month/same date/year). The addresses used were also not mine. Basically the manager looked at my id and said he would confirm if anyone asked that the account was NOT opened by me.

One hot phone call and letter from an attorney and the idiot never called me again.

All of that to say even though this person NEVER submitted anything with my address on it an overzealous debt collector WILL start harrassing anyone with a similar name in the hopes that if you are a relative you'll get the offender to call in (or give in to fear of a ruined report) and pay the bill off.

I think the first thing you should do is pay to get one report just to see if there has even been any activity on your husbands account. If there is something then go ahead and get from all 3 and follow the directions they have on how to file a claim (placing a warning on your report and filing a police report). The letter in the mail could have been someone just matching the names and hoping you'd respond (either thinking that you are the person and moved or not caring that you aren't the person and will pay).

I really hope this is just the case of an overzealous bill collector harraasing you unnecessarily.

[Annette]

You should have DH put a fraud alert on his credit reports. If someone tries to open an account with his SS #, they will call him to verify. They will also give you a free report if your identity has been stolen.