How do I tell the world that someone is using my personal information to make purchases?

Question

Verizon warned me that someone had a phone in my name in a city where I do not live and do not have relatives. Someone called me last night from Florida and informed me that an unidentified person was using my personal information to make purchases. Several years ago, someone ordered flowers in my name at a florist shop in Montana--a place I have never been to--and that person apparently did not have the funds to cover a check written. I do not have contacts in these places, yet someone claiming to be me uses my information just as easily as if it were me. Enough is enough. What do I do America?

Answer 1

You have let this go on for several years? You need your head examined for letting this go on and on. Identify theft is one of the fastest growing problems in the U.S!

Call your bank or credit union. Close all accounts and either reopen them with a different name, or move to another banking facility. Notify your credit card company and stop all charges to your credit card. You are entitled to one free credit report from all three agencies a year, and here's where to start:
https://www.annualcreditreport.com/cra/index.jsp

Notify any one of them that you want to file a Fraud Report. this only lasts for 90 days, but it's a start. Keep after them to get all three credit reports (it might be better to call or write them, addresses are shown). that way, you can state the facts and demand your free credit report. Dispute anything in any of them that is wrong. You can eventually clear your credit, but it will take work and effort on your part to do it. No one can do it for you.

Answer 2

This seems like you are a victim of identity fraud.

Have you checked your credit reports? Check your monthly credit card statements to see if unfamiliar purchases are being made. Speak to your bank to see if anything has been done in your name that you are not aware of. If there are problems there, put a fraud alert on your account.

To protect yourself, do not give your social security number out to ANYBODY, except an employer AFTER you get hired.

Be VERY careful where you do online purchases. Use only reputable sites that have encryption technology to secure your information.

Use a box number for your home address and be very selective about who you give your home address to. The same can apply to your date of birth.

Keep all bills, credit card receipts, mortgage statements, etc. in a safe place where nobody can use them. If you need to dispose of anything with personal information on it, shred them before doing so.

Do an annual credit check to see if there are any issues of somebody else figuring into your accounts and report any incident right away.

As for what you can do now - if you find anything going on - ask the people reporting these incidents to you to put it in writing (as how do you know this is somebody from Verizon, for example). After you get it in writing, then report it to your nearest police station's fraud unit.

I hope this is helpful.

Answer 3

Check your credit through Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. You get one free credit report per year. Use the credit report to find out whether someone has opened accounts or had credit checks done on you in your name. If so, you must notify these agencies at once so they can put an alert on your credit. Monitor your bank accounts closely to make sure there is no unauthorized activity. Call your banks and credit cards to let them know what is happening. I'm not sure much can be done to catch the person if he or she hasn't actually charged things to you, but you can try. Also file police reports in your city and in the cities where unauthorized use of your information has occured.

Answer 4

Not all computer geniuses or hackers infect people's computers. It is a steriotype! Ten years ago the term "hacker" was a symbol of respect. A hacker is someone who basically knows all there is about computers. Hacking is an art. Cracking however is the evil thing people do to "crack" into computers and write viruses. These people are usually newbies who are just starting out around the age of thirteen. As they wisen up and learn more they will stop all that cracking and start writing usefull programs and help people. I know I used to do all that evil stuff until I learned more about hacking. Now I am a dance instructor by day, and computer super hero by night lol. So don't think that all hackers are bad. Some of them are just misguided. Notice how I said some? I would say 98% of hackers do good things, not evil things. P.S. NOT ALL OF US ARE VIRGINS!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 5

Contact all 3 major credit reporting agencies and put a fraud hold on your record.

Pull your credit report from all 3 and notify any companies listed that you do not do business with that someone is fraudulently using your identity with them and that you will not be responsible for any outstanding charges. Provide proof of your identity if they request it.

Notify your local police. And notify the police in any jurisdictions where your identity was used illegally.

Answer 6

Tell the police or FBI and cancel all your personal information. And let then find out if its true you might want to call your lawyer, but find out if its true or not.

Answer 7

You have no clue what you're talking about. Do you even have credit cards? You would most definitely have known by now if someone stole your identity.

Maybe YOU have SOMEONE Else's name?

Answer 8

Contact all 3 major credit agencies NOW!!!!

Equifax is one...

Answer 9

Go to the police in your town.

Answer 10

Try the sites below.