Post #210977 by stuff-o-rama on Fri, Jan 27, 2006 11:18 PM

I bumped this topic because Monday I became a victim of identity theft.

I am so careful about not sharing info, I shred all of my mail, I never give out info on the phone, etc. I have a special e-mail address for all non-biz related items, I use an alias so as to not get spammed and tons of junk mail clogging up my e-mail box and my home mail box.

Someone, somehow, got access to my checking account and took all but $94. They took it all in one chunk so they had to have knowledge of how much I had in there. There is a possibility that they may have called the bank office (presenting themselves as a business) for a check verification, then wrote the fake check and transferred the money. They left enough in the account to not close it and raise suspicion. When I realized what was going on, it took me three days of red tape, filing reports and closing old and opening new accounts. It is completely exhausting. The bank already had a printed pamphlet with step by step instructions of what to do and who to contact, along with a copy of the "Patriot Act". The Policeman taking my report told me in this little one horse town alone, they get about 30 a week. He said in the old days people would break into your house or steal your purse or wallet to rob you, now all they have to do is intercept a mailed bill with a check payment enclosed. A lot of crack heads have mastered the art of check washing and can make some really convincing counterfeit checks. I must say he really didn't calm my fears with that statement. He also said the chance of actually finding these guys is slim, the banks are all insured so they take the hit and it's very rare the criminals are found are prosecuted. The company who "wire transferred" the money out of my account was NexTel, so maybe the only thing in my favor is the guy may have left a paper trail. In the end, the bank did cover the money taken but I am still so angry!

Has anyone else encountered this and what was the outcome?