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Who here has had their identity stolen? What did you do? Could use some advise.

PirateMk1

PirateMk1

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Howdy peoples.

Here's the deleo. A little over a month ago my house in the Golden State is burglarized. That house was in the process of being vacated and put on the market, so nobody was in it and one could tell vacant for longer periods, over a week. I kept all my paperwork, business and otherwise and mail and stuff there so I could keep track of it and keep it organized all in a office in the house. It standard locks and stuff, no video surveillance at the time of the burglary. I had just pulled the wireless cameras and PTZ units for install at the new home. Long story short the only thing of real value that was stolen were the paper copies of my business and personal mail and paperwork including copies of my social security card, government ID's including an old passport. The only originals were all old ID's kept from when I was overseas for nostalgias sake. All the current data stolen was on my business forms for various accounts, contracts and the like. The burglars hit a jackpot of sorts. They got everything needed to steal an ID.

So for the last month I have been putting out fires caused by my friendly neighborhood burglars. They have been so annoying and the local Sheriffs department so anemic, and all the creditors so unforthcoming that I decided to employ a PI to track down these singular mutts. Which he did to a degree. I have a house address and a possible perp name with a rap sheet that fits the bill perfectly. So lately the vermin have stepped up their game such that that I have had to change accounts and cards three times this month. I have credit freezes and fraud watches on the major credit reporting agencies. My accounts are passcode locked. I spent a good portion of this month chasing all the potential fires.

So I was wondering who has went through this before, what did you do, is there some secret sauce to putting this right? Also I have secondary question I have pretty good intelligence I have the address of the perp and an ID, but its not perfect. I would like to confirm the perp for the Sheriffs so they could nab, but I haven't heard from them once, they seem to be taking their sweet time. Now one of the Knick knack they took was a casing block the VFW gives after my dads funeral, I would like to get that back so am contemplating just walking up and inquiring. I am hesitant to go there because one I just may go medieval on the perps, two I dont want to jeopardize a potential case. I am in a state of indecision so some opinions on the matter would be welcome. My primary objective at this time is to get them to stop trying to get at my credit, and secondary recover the nostalgic and family stuff that was stolen.

Any ideas are welcome. Thanks in advance guys, as always your awesome. :cheers:
 
PirateMk1 said:
Howdy peoples.

Here's the deleo. A little over a month ago my house in the Golden State is burglarized. That house was in the process of being vacated and put on the market, so nobody was in it and one could tell vacant for longer periods, over a week. I kept all my paperwork, business and otherwise and mail and stuff there so I could keep track of it and keep it organized all in a office in the house. It standard locks and stuff, no video surveillance at the time of the burglary. I had just pulled the wireless cameras and PTZ units for install at the new home. Long story short the only thing of real value that was stolen were the paper copies of my business and personal mail and paperwork including copies of my social security card, government ID's including an old passport. The only originals were all old ID's kept from when I was overseas for nostalgias sake. All the current data stolen was on my business forms for various accounts, contracts and the like. The burglars hit a jackpot of sorts. They got everything needed to steal an ID.

So for the last month I have been putting out fires caused by my friendly neighborhood burglars. They have been so annoying and the local Sheriffs department so anemic, and all the creditors so unforthcoming that I decided to employ a PI to track down these singular mutts. Which he did to a degree. I have a house address and a possible perp name with a rap sheet that fits the bill perfectly. So lately the vermin have stepped up their game such that that I have had to change accounts and cards three times this month. I have credit freezes and fraud watches on the major credit reporting agencies. My accounts are passcode locked. I spent a good portion of this month chasing all the potential fires.

So I was wondering who has went through this before, what did you do, is there some secret sauce to putting this right? Also I have secondary question I have pretty good intelligence I have the address of the perp and an ID, but its not perfect. I would like to confirm the perp for the Sheriffs so they could nab, but I haven't heard from them once, they seem to be taking their sweet time. Now one of the Knick knack they took was a casing block the VFW gives after my dads funeral, I would like to get that back so am contemplating just walking up and inquiring. I am hesitant to go there because one I just may go medieval on the perps, two I dont want to jeopardize a potential case. I am in a state of indecision so some opinions on the matter would be welcome. My primary objective at this time is to get them to stop trying to get at my credit, and secondary recover the nostalgic and family stuff that was stolen.

Any ideas are welcome. Thanks in advance guys, as always your awesome. :cheers:
Click to expand...

Our mailbox is at the end of a 1/8 mile driveway. We stopped using it and used a Post Box long ago. Lo and behold a bill for a credit card shows up.

We Immediately called the bank the credit card was issued from.

No problem. The bank took care of everything.
 
I just had one of my credit card hacked and I thought that was a horrible inconvenience but your situation is just about the most horrible case of identity theft I've heard of yet, especially since they got a copy of your S.S. card.

I'm a law-abiding person, I've even walked back into a store to return .34 cents to the clerk because she gave me too much change. But If I were not the kind of person I am, I would be extremely frustrated by the lack of interest your sheriff's office seems to have. Although, they may be overburdened with many theft reports just as serious as yours.

My inner bad person tells me that I would go down to the hood with $500 and offer $100 to five (cough) 'unsavory' individuals to show up at the front door of this perpetrator with a video camera in hand and demand that all your stuff, every piece of paper be returned immediately. Of course, they would all have to be wearing masks and carrying baseball bats.
 
Man that sucks, sorry you are having to deal with that. Very violating, and in your case it's not going away.

Easy stuff you probably know - I think there are some identity services out there that can help lock stuff down and keep an eye on activity. No idea if they are useful or a waste, just an idea since you have a deep/active situation.
Change all passwords to long compound words (easy to remember but long!), and 2 step verification where possible. Top priority is all email accounts (Because they are a key to verification online), and money related accounts.

Many credit cards can issue you a new one and auto-update any auto-debit. One-time debit/setup, they usually can't change...manual labor there.

As to cops involvement, that's unfortunate. I would think if you have all the information, location, evidence, etc., it's possibly they could do a look into it, confirm, pay them a visit, question them, and go from there. Or maybe even have enough now for a warrant. But without the cops involvement, I'm not sure I would go there since they actively robbed you. If it was a shady deal and they took advantage I would think they might cave if you found them. But if they turn anything over to you they may feel that puts them at risk, so they will deny it. I had a friend with a business who was robbed and he figured out how/who, and the cops worked with him to catch the guy in the act the next time. When he sold that business later he sold it to an amateur con, who didn't pay for it all but took all the inventory and disappeared. He DID track him down like in your case, and he did with a friend, go knock on the door and say "Just give us what you took and it's a done deal". He returned most of what was left over...which wasn't all that much.

Maybe some LEO types are on this forum and can comment about how likely local PD would be to take action. Seems like everyone just suggests moving on...which is sad and likely makes this more prevalent since they are successful and don't get caught as much as maybe they should.

It's a good lesson for people to remember. If you are moving out of an apartment or home *do not leave any valuables or personals there* if you can help it, it's a prime target for being stolen as it turns out. Happened to me when I left valuables at an apartment I had one more week before required to vacate...wasn't robbery per se...cleaning people took it all thinking it was garbage/abandoned, but that was not the case. (same with newly built houses that aren't occupied, they take appliances!).
 
PirateMk1 said:
Howdy peoples.

Here's the deleo. A little over a month ago my house in the Golden State is burglarized. That house was in the process of being vacated and put on the market, so nobody was in it and one could tell vacant for longer periods, over a week. I kept all my paperwork, business and otherwise and mail and stuff there so I could keep track of it and keep it organized all in a office in the house. It standard locks and stuff, no video surveillance at the time of the burglary. I had just pulled the wireless cameras and PTZ units for install at the new home. Long story short the only thing of real value that was stolen were the paper copies of my business and personal mail and paperwork including copies of my social security card, government ID's including an old passport. The only originals were all old ID's kept from when I was overseas for nostalgias sake. All the current data stolen was on my business forms for various accounts, contracts and the like. The burglars hit a jackpot of sorts. They got everything needed to steal an ID.

So for the last month I have been putting out fires caused by my friendly neighborhood burglars. They have been so annoying and the local Sheriffs department so anemic, and all the creditors so unforthcoming that I decided to employ a PI to track down these singular mutts. Which he did to a degree. I have a house address and a possible perp name with a rap sheet that fits the bill perfectly. So lately the vermin have stepped up their game such that that I have had to change accounts and cards three times this month. I have credit freezes and fraud watches on the major credit reporting agencies. My accounts are passcode locked. I spent a good portion of this month chasing all the potential fires.

So I was wondering who has went through this before, what did you do, is there some secret sauce to putting this right? Also I have secondary question I have pretty good intelligence I have the address of the perp and an ID, but its not perfect. I would like to confirm the perp for the Sheriffs so they could nab, but I haven't heard from them once, they seem to be taking their sweet time. Now one of the Knick knack they took was a casing block the VFW gives after my dads funeral, I would like to get that back so am contemplating just walking up and inquiring. I am hesitant to go there because one I just may go medieval on the perps, two I dont want to jeopardize a potential case. I am in a state of indecision so some opinions on the matter would be welcome. My primary objective at this time is to get them to stop trying to get at my credit, and secondary recover the nostalgic and family stuff that was stolen.

Any ideas are welcome. Thanks in advance guys, as always your awesome. :cheers:
Click to expand...

Notify the IRS so come January they don't try to file fraudulent tax refunds before you get around to filing your legit ones.
 
Drawdown said:
Notify the IRS so come January they don't try to file fraudulent tax refunds before you get around to filing your legit ones.
Click to expand...

They dont want my taxes. I pay the IRS quarterly. Aint no refunds coming. :lamo Already doing that though just in case.
 
I have never had my identity stolen but here is some good advice from a law enforcement friend of mine:

NEVER allow a doctors or other healthcare office to scan your ID. No problem if they scan your health insurance card, and no problem if they want to look at your ID to make sure it is you coming in and using your benefits. But NEVER allow anyone to make a digital scan of your license or other ID. NOBODY---not even your employer..... especially not your employer who already also has your SS#.

Doctors offices like to ask for lots of information including your SS#. I never give that out. What happens to those paper forms you fill out if they aren't shredded and end up in the trash outback in the alley? And scans of your ID are a major source of stolen ID today.
 
Court Jester said:
I have never had my identity stolen but here is some good advice from a law enforcement friend of mine:

NEVER allow a doctors or other healthcare office to scan your ID. No problem if they scan your health insurance card, and no problem if they want to look at your ID to make sure it is you coming in and using your benefits. But NEVER allow anyone to make a digital scan of your license or other ID. NOBODY---not even your employer..... especially not your employer who already also has your SS#.

Doctors offices like to ask for lots of information including your SS#. I never give that out. What happens to those paper forms you fill out if they aren't shredded and end up in the trash outback in the alley? And scans of your ID are a major source of stolen ID today.
Click to expand...

Had never heard that you don't have to let certain offices scan or photocopy your drivers license. Yesterday I was with my Dad at his Dr. Appointment and they asked to see his drivers license and were going to photocopy it. I was surprised that the receptionist said "oh no problem we don't have to have a copy" but then she checked and they already had one. Then I asked if it was mandatory that they photocopy it and she said no. So from now on I won't be letting the world photocopy or scan my drivers license.

Thanks for the tip, Jester.
 
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