Identity theft--Why would thief make payment??

Question

Hi,
I had a really weird experience. I had not gotten my credit card statement in the mail, and was getting a little worried. I went online to check my statement. When I got online, I had all these fraudulent charges. What is really strange, is that somehow, they had made a payment out of my checking account. I checked my checkbook, and was missing a check that they had made the payment with. My questions is why would the thief go to the trouble of making the payment??

Thanks for your time
pb4sc

Answer 1

If an account goes past due, i.e. no payment is made during the billing cycle, their is a risk that the credit card will be suspended from further charges. If you still have available credit then making a minimum payment continues to give them access to those funds. Plus, didn't you say the check was one of yours? Then it's not their money and all that does is give them more to spend. I'm hoping you cancelled this card or reported it lost .

Answer 2

Identity theft consists of various types of crimes of stealing credit card number to open accounts in the name of the victim. Nearly 15% people complain that their identities were stolen and used for reasons other than getting credit, like procuring government documents, perpetuating tax fraud, or misleading police. It is quite commonplace for the culprit to give a false name and Social Security number on being arraigned for a traffic violation.

Thieves cause the most harm when they take over your identity completely. By feigning to be you, they open new credit card accounts, avail of an auto loan, get medical treatment or rent an apartment. When the bills arrive, they fail to pay. Now those delinquencies, charge-offs, collections, repossessions, evictions, and judgments show up on your credit report, thus dramatically lowering your credit score.

Answer 3

The thief wants to keep the accpunt ACTIVE. by making a payment the thief may also hope you dont notice. The also may have changed your address ... that why on statements from the company

Kill the card NOW!!!

Answer 4

My guess would be to establish a change of address and then use your name to get more cards. You need to get on top of this right away. Start out with a credit history report and inform that credit rating company that you are not seeking any new credit cards.

Answer 5

It is easier to use the credit card than it is to pay for a purchase by check. So they used your check to pay down your credit card balance so they could keep the party going...

Just a way for them to steal more money. Hope you catch them...

Answer 6

If you don't file a police report, the bank won't take your claim seriously. Call the police, then your bank, then notify the "Big Three"- Experian, Equifax, and the other one. Act fast... That thief has bigger plans for your money!

Answer 7

If you need more help with identity theft check out http://identitytheftnow.com

Answer 8

they are right.. but my question would be... HOW did they get that check to even make the payment?

--10 MILLION people per year are victims of Identity Theft.

--Todays growing target for criminals; are children and teens identities (SS#). Why? Because parents never think to check/protect their childrens reports.

1) run a free credit report from each agency (your allowed one free one per year, per agency). you need to know, so you need to get them.
2) Check your childrens also (check the link below as to how to)
3) if ID Theft has occurred, you need to make a police report first. the rest of what you need to do, is listed in the links below (with GREAT info too).
4) some states allow you to 'lock' or 'freeze' credit reports; to protect against theft. if your state allows it, lock 'em down. that way, no one can open an account on them.
5) once you discover their credit reports have activity on them, then contact each credit reporting agency (the 3 major ones) and report the ID Theft... and request they lock the reports (usually they automatically do it, but ask for it anyway).

REMEMBER; you are only allowed to run credit reports on YOURSELF and YOUR MINOR CHILDREN (NO, not when they are adults).

To run a report on anyone else, they have to authorize it, and you better have proof of that authorization. If you do it without their knowledge, you are legally liable and they can not only report you to the state/federal authorities, but they may decide to sue you in a court of law.
http://www.ftc.gov/credit/
http://www.ftc.gov/privacy/index.html

http://www.ftc.gov/os/2002/05/67fr36585.pdf
“…security or integrity of such records; and
protect against unauthorized access to
or use of such records or information
that could result in substantial harm or
inconvenience to any customer.
EFFECTIVE DATE: This rule is effective on
May 23, 2003.”


'Active Duty' Alerts Help Protect Military
Personnel from Identity Theft
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/alerts/dutyalrt.htm



ID THEFT HELP/ INFO
http://www.usdoj.gov/criminal/fraud/idtheft.html
http://www.ic3.gov/
http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft/con_steps.htm
http://www.idtheftcenter.org/index.shtml
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/credit/index.html
http://www.fraudguides.com/consumer-identity-theft-children.asp
http://www.ripoffreport.com/
http://www.fightidentitytheft.com/
http://www.ncpc.org/media/current.php
https://rn.ftc.gov/pls/dod/widtpubl$.startup?Z_ORG_CODE=PU03
http://www.myidfix.com/
http://www.identitytheftassistance.org/index.html
http://identitytheftnow.com/


ORDERING CHILDRENS REPORTS
(yes, its free)
https://www.annualcreditreport.com/cra/helpfaq

ORDERING YOURS: ONLINE, PHONE, MAIL
(yes, its free)
https://www.annualcreditreport.com/cra/order

FAQ ABOUT CREDIT REPORTS
https://www.annualcreditreport.com/cra/helpfaq

FAIR DEBT COLLECTION
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/credit/fdc.htm

STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS
http://www.fair-debt-collection.com/statue-limitations-explained.html
EACH STATES SoL
http://www.fair-debt-collection.com/statue-limitations.html
http://www.fair-credit-reporting.com/credit-laws/credit-reporting-periods.html

CAPITAL ONE
http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Banking/YourCreditRating/WeirdStuffThatHurtsYourCredit.aspx?GT1=8885
Capital One refuses to report its customers' credit limits to the three major credit bureaus. Instead, the bureaus use the highest balance a customer has charged as a proxy for the limit.

As a result, the customers' all-important "debt utilization ratios" -- the portion of their available credit these borrowers are actually using -- can appear artificially high. That can depress borrowers' credit scores, the three-digit numbers lenders use to help determine creditworthiness.

Lower credit scores can mean higher interest rates on mortgages, car loans and other borrowing, as well as potentially higher insurance premiums, since many insurers also use credit-scoring systems to help gauge risk.


CREDIT REPORT INFO / REPAIRS / DISPUTES
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre21.htm
http://www.kiplinger.com/columns/starting/archive/2007/st0221.htm
http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/cc/20040116b1.asp
https://www.annualcreditreport.com/cra/helpfaq
http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/forms/credit-report-error-fix.asp
http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/bankruptcy/20070313_credit_report_stains_a1.asp
http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/forms/credit-report-error-fix.txt
http://bankrate.com/
http://www.occ.treas.gov/customer.htm

TO ORDER A FREE CREDIT REPORT
(all three are free once a year)

Equifax
P.O. Box 740241
Atlanta, GA 30374
www.equifax.com
1-800-685-1111
_______________
Experian
P.O. Box 19719
Irvine, CA 92623
www.experian.com
1-888-397-3742
_______________
TransUnion
P.O. Box 2000
Chester, PA 19022
www.transunion.com
1-800-916-8800


FIND YOUR REPS
http://www.usa.gov/
http://www.usa.gov/Agencies/State_and_Territories.shtml
http://www.nga.org
http://www.naag.org/attorneys_general.php
http://judiciary.senate.gov/