Identity Theft

[oldr_n_wsr]

I think someone is masqurading as me.
About a week ago I got a letter from GE Capital saying thanks for opening a paypal account on July 29...blah blah blah.... and to call to confirm that I am opening the account. Only problem was I didn't. My wife had opened one years ago when she was bidding on someting on ebay, but nothing recent. So I call the number and say I didn't and I am not authorising anything. So they deny the account and I figure that's it, that is was some mistake. I do not have anything with GE capital but who knows who really does the credit on your credit cards.

Then yesterday I get a call from paypal. I ask why they called and the guy says they only call for a negative balance. I say I did not use paypal in years. He explains that the account was opened on July 29 2013. So we go back and forth and he endsd up forwarding the info to their ID theft department and tells me to call back in a few days to see how things are going. They have a name (not mine) and an email (also not mine) from whomever is doing this.

We'll see how this plays out.

Now I am worried accounts may be being opened in my name. I already alerted my banks and investment people. Any thoughts?

[Scooter]

Examine your credit card and bank statements thoroughly for questionable entries. Get a copy of your credit report and make sure you can identify everything on it as yours.

[oldr_n_wsr]

Examine your credit card and bank statements thoroughly for questionable entries. Get a copy of your credit report and make sure you can identify everything on it as yours.

I checked with my CC's and so far nothing that we didn't charge.My real fear is opening of a card that I didn't. Anyone hear of LifeLock? Seems they provide a service to stop these kinds of things.

[Rick]

They were Phishing...

[Guinevere]

Run a credit report ASAP.

And btw, the CEO of LifeLock had his identity stolen, or so I've read.

[Rick]

It's cause he posted his SS# on national television.

I get those Pay Pal notices all the time, again they are Phishing if you respond they know yer live bait...

[oldr_n_wsr]

It's cause he posted his SS# on national television.

I get those Pay Pal notices all the time, again they are Phishing if you respond they know yer live bait...

I responded to a letter I got from GE capital and a PAYPAL phone call, both said they were alerting their identity theft departments. I gave no SS# or any credit card numbers to the people on the phones I called. Looks like the perp tried to link/pay their paypal account with a credit account that I denied opening to the GE capital people.

I did get the email address (yahoo account) of whomever tried to open the paypal account.

I would type it here and so you all could spam the account but it does contain my last name in it. I never put my last (nor first) name on any kind of web account. not that I have many, although my work email has my last name on it, but I only use that for work stuff

[Joe Guy]

Why would a credit card company welcome you to opening a Paypal account?

Check your credit report through Annualcreditreport.com if you haven't already. It is the only legitimate (and free) website for checking your credit.

I don't think Lifelock does anything that you can't do on your own.

[Econoline]

Yes, identity theft is a serious problem everywhere:

[Sean]

Here's my take on this oldr...

It sounds like a credit card scam to me. It would work like this: They get your surname, address and number from the phone book. Then they mock up and send a fake letter from GE to you. You call GE who, of course, know nothing about it. Then they follow up with a phone call pretending to be Paypal. The idea is to get your first name (presuming the phone book only listed your initial... This would also explain why the email addy had the correct surname but the wrong first name) which will give them enough to get a credit card in your name. They intercept the card in the mail and then go on a spending spree without bothering to intercept the bills that arrive at your address.

My advice is to get a credit report done immediately and if it shows nothing untoward, follow it up with another in a few weeks' time.

A couple of questions... do you remember if you told them your first name on the phone? IIRC, it's quite an unusual name which would explain why they guessed it wrong from your initial... Second question, did the incorrect first name on the email addy have the same initial as yours?

[oldr_n_wsr]

A couple of questions... do you remember if you told them your first name on the phone? IIRC, it's quite an unusual name which would explain why they guessed it wrong from your initial... Second question, did the incorrect first name on the email addy have the same initial as yours?

The letter I got from "GE" had my correct first and last name. My first name is not unusual but my last name is also used as a first name in Germany. The email address they gave me had my last name and only first initial and the number 73 and is a yahoo account.

The numbers I called for GE and Paypal had the whole "press two for spanish, etc...." menu system and were 800 or 888 numbers.

ETA
I did get a scare the other day that I thought was related to this. Got a call from a bill collection agency and I call the number back figuring this is going to be a pain in the balls. The guy asks me if I know an (sons name) and (sons girlfriends name). I say yes and he tells me to pass along the phone nuimber I have to them as they owe money on their phone bill. Deadbeat son I have. Thought I tought him better.