The following is compilation of posts written by David B. from a message board called ThreeWay Action. David was the victim of robbery at gunpoint. By sharing his story, he has turned a negative experience into a positive one. Well, as positive as it can be for such a shitty thing. Identity theft is, in my opinion, worse than just having your money stolen. David posted some very good information on what to do if you suspect your identity has been stolen. I have reprinted it here with his permission and that of the moderator of ThreeWay Action.
We Wuz Robbed |
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Actually, I was, this evening, in Park Slope, at gunpoint. I guess I could bitch about having an automatic pointed at my sternum. I guess I could bitch about the hassle of losing and having to replace all those cards. But what I really want to bitch about is the fact that the Evildoer of Evil was able to walk into some fuckwit establishment (I'll find out tomorrow who it was) with my debit card and no PIN number and walk out with $1,000.... Since it's been such a great day in the neighborhood, I've learned a couple of other things. Kids, can you say I-D-E-N-T-I-T-Y T-H-E-F-T? How about C-R-E-D-I-T F-R-A-U-D? If your social security number and driver's license were stolen, you're vulnerable, and I've already heard some horror stories of thieves (or whoever they sell your ID info to) quickly obtaining credit lines and PINs and ordering computers and all kinds of stuff that get billed to you. Yecch. But there are preventive or curative steps to be taken, requiring four phone calls. First, three umbrella credit check companies:
All three have automated systems for putting a credit alert in place, which means that you'll be personally contacted before any credit is issued in your name. All three systems are pretty easy to follow, as these things go. The Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General fraud line:
Also, I've belatedly learned, you should make photocopies of everything you keep in your wallet (well, except the money, I guess). Incidentally, I got all this info from a distant relative who, as it happened, also had her wallet stolen recently, and was circulating these numbers and procedures to everyone she knew. When I asked the police about credit fraud and identity theft, I drew blank stares. Maybe there's a unit in the NYPD that addresses this - at least provides the what-to-do-now info - but if there is the guys at the precinct level weren't aware of it. Of course, the easiest thing would be to avoid people who want to rob you. But I guess it's wise to have a fallback... "©ThreeWay Action - Quoted with permission."
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Wednesday July 11, 2007 07:00:06 PM -0500
