If I suspect someone of applying for credit cards in my name, is there anything I can do to report them?

Question

I have received notification of credit cards being applied for in my wifes name. I suspect my brother-in-law is responsible since these notifications are being sent to my inlaws house where he resides and our relationship is not so good right now. He is a known drug addict, but supposedly is doing good right now. This is not the first time this has happened with him either. Is there anything that I can do, report, or anyway that I can track or bring evidence against him, or even find out if it really is him?

Answer 1

First, have your wife put a fraud alert on her SSN. She can do this by contacting the credit bureaus. This should activate a verification process where credit can only be issued if someone speaks directly to her.

Second, have her pull a credit report to determine if there are any open accounts she did not sign up for. (Contact the three bureaus).

Contact any creditors who are questionable to close the accounts and place fraud alerts on them so they can not be reopened.

Finally, she can probably file a police report but that won't help the strained relationship in the family. A police report is sometimes the only way to get something expunged from a credit report. However, it's important to first see what is going on.

Worst case scenario, she can try to apply for a new SSN. Check the SS site for information.

Answer 2

I have actualy had this happen to me a few years ago. Luckily I had bad credit, so none of the cards were approved.

The first thing you need to do is contact all the companies that are sending the credit cards. You need to explain that you are receving notices that somebody is applying for cards in your name. Each company has a different way of handling this, so its important to contact each one. Its a pain, but its worth it. Each and every time you apply for a credit card, they look into your credit, and even if you have good credit, the more times they look into your credit it can really mess things up.

There is, or at least was a group you can call that kind of puts a lock on your credit history, and any time there is an inquiry you are contacted, and have to give permission for the company to gain access. Its not very well known, but some credit card companies know of it.


The bottom line is you need to take care of this asap. If these cards start being used, the longer you wait the less they can do about it, and the more in debt you could become.

Answer 3

Yes. First of all contact the three major credit reporting bureaus and tell them you want to have an identity theft flag put on your file. By doing this, each time a request is made on your file they will immediately notify you by one of the methods you list with them to make verification as to whether or not it is a valid request. Second, most states have penal laws which make it illegal to provide false information to obtain credit. Most now have identity theft laws but it de;pends on how each stateeee's are written as to whether or not he has to actually succeed at obtaining credit or something aof value to become an offense, while others make it illegal to use anothers ID for fraudulent purposes at all. Some have 'Attempt" offenses as well, which means even if he attempts to commit an offense but does not succeed or finish the act he's still guilty of the attempt charge, which is usually punishable by one grade lower than the penaly would be had he actually commited the offense. Soon, within the next 2-3 years all businesses should be updated with the latest identity theft prevention technology, the current one being implemented now is the use of an electronic fingerprint scanner. Your inex finger from your drivers license application or a credit burea verification process will be scanned into an AFIS system (Automated Fingerprint Ident. System) and at the checkout counter or institution where you are attempting a transaction or application you will simply place your finger on the scanner and in seconds it will verify your identiy along with your picture.

Answer 4

Contact Trans Union, Equifax and Experian. Report Fraud. Call the credit card companies and report fraud too. This happened to me in 1997. My cousin, same name as me, got a hold of my SSN through my student loan.

Answer 5

As you know, that's illegal, call the credit card company first, then call the Police. It's that simple.

Answer 6

Tell the credit card company what you believe to be true. Believe me, they'll check it out and prosecute if there is any wrongdoing.

Answer 7

Yes contact your bank and also the credit organizations. Any bank will have info about who to contact and what to do. You may also need to contact the police.

Answer 8

call the credit card companies and tell them you suspect identity fraud have them look up your name and your wifes name and the mailing address--have them "red flag" your name...if you are told there is nothing they can do--request to speak to a supervisor---identity fraud is a felony and it is very hard to resolve your credit when your name is used for purchases etc...good luck

Answer 9

get credit reports from all three agencies..then notify the police with your documentation...they'll track the cards and get video surveillance of whoever is using them and prosecute them...ID theft is common

Answer 10

duh?............