Identity theft!

[Todd S. Malicoate]

This is the first time it's ever happened to me. Someone got a hold of my debit card number and charged a couple of subscriptions to "adult" websites to it (to the tune of almost $80).

Tomorrow morning will feature a nice visit to the bank to try and get these charges dropped and likely a change of my account information or number. I've canceled the "subscriptions" online, but that just stops the re-billing every month.

Wow, what fun.

[tubafatness]

I had this happen to me this summer, for the first time. Someone took my debit number and used it to buy subscriptions to three different dating services, (which is a pretty lame way to spend money, if you ask me.) I found it out pretty quickly, and the bank gave me my money back.

Unfortunately, the bank decided a couple of weeks to revoke some of the money it gave me, and in doing so, caused my account to transfer money from the savings into the checking side. Of course, because of that, they charged me a $3.00 transfer fee, which then caused my account to go into a negative balance. I'll still need to call them about that little charge...

Aaron

[jbeish]

Good luck. Happened to me six years ago where someone had my social security number and opened numerous department store credit cards. A few thousand dollars that I had to pay for; wrecked my credit when I was only 19. Kicker was, the person was never caught but managed to open cards under my name with a wrong birth date, wrong address, wrong phone number and apparently no photo id. I hope it works out for you.

[tubashaman2]

.

[WVUtubaman12]

this isn't really the same thing, but i just found out that my roommate has been taking my debit card when he goes clubbing on the weekends (i'm asleep at this point) and has spent around 140 dollars from my account. Not exactly identity theft, but just as frustrating.

[TMurphy]

this isn't really the same thing, but i just found out that my roommate has been taking my debit card when he goes clubbing on the weekends (i'm asleep at this point) and has spent around 140 dollars from my account. Not exactly identity theft, but just as frustrating.

No, not identity theft, just plain ol' theft, and probably fraud. You can (and probably should...I know I would) have him locked up for that.

[MartyNeilan]

My father-in-law is going through a divorce from his third wife, lost his house to foreclosure, filing bankruptcy, no longer working, and has no assets to speak of except his Harley Road King which he as yet to hit the break-even point on. He brought home a shredder from a garage sale (2 actually) because he is concerned that someone could dig through the trash and steal his identity.

[WVUtubaman12]

I would, but as it stands I have a grand total of zero proof. Just my gut feeling about it, and how he reacted when I said the money was gone from my account.

[Rick Denney]

this isn't really the same thing, but i just found out that my roommate has been taking my debit card when he goes clubbing on the weekends (i'm asleep at this point) and has spent around 140 dollars from my account. Not exactly identity theft, but just as frustrating.

No, not identity theft, just plain ol' theft, and probably fraud. You can (and probably should...I know I would) have him locked up for that.

Yes, though in the old days it would not have required the law. A thief in a college dormitory is an unwelcome person, once it is known that they are a thief. Enforcement happens the old-fashioned way, and the standards of proof are somewhat relaxed. Calling the cops might make it more of a deal than it needs to be if the person just needs to be taught something they were not taught before. But the teaching has to take place, or they will proceed to ruin themselves. I would not tolerate a thief as a roomie, and the only two possible outcomes for me would be rehabilitation (by whatever means) or removal.

Rick "thinking young'uns today have little regard for property, maybe because they haven't suffered enough to obtain it" Denney

[Todd S. Malicoate]

I would, but as it stands I have a grand total of zero proof. Just my gut feeling about it, and how he reacted when I said the money was gone from my account.

This seems illogical. You should get a statement monthly from the banking showing exactly where those purchases occurred and when. Of course you couldn't 100% prove your roomie was the one using the card at those moments in those clubs, but the circumstantial evidence would be pretty convincing at it would be unlikely he could deny it with a straight face. You should at least (perhaps gently) ask him to give you the money back.

On a brighter note, I managed to get all four unauthorized charges to my bank account credited and a new debit card in just a few minutes with a one-day wait for activation. Not very much of an inconvenience, all things considered.

[bearphonium]

On this topic, I am investigating a gal who had a restaurant and has been using former customer's credit/debit numbers all over the place. Do what you can to prosecute these honyoks. I'm up to about 20 cases on her.

[Rick F]

I think using a credit card in a restaurant is really asking for trouble. The card is out of your sight with the server for some time. My son had his CC number stolen that way some years ago. My son was fortunate in that he was just responsible for $50 of the charges. I never use my CC in a restaurant.

[MartyNeilan]

I never use my CC in a restaurant.

Probably a good thing, depending on the restaurant. Definitely a BBb at a German Biergarten, maybe an Eb at an authentic fish and chips pub.

[tbn.al]

Nice shot Marty! I didn't even see it coming.

[Rick F]

I never use my CC in a restaurant.

Probably a good thing, depending on the restaurant. Definitely a BBb at a German Biergarten, maybe an Eb at an authentic fish and chips pub.

Ha ha.

[MaryAnn]

Someone hacked my Amazon account a year ago Christmas and charged $800 worth of stereo stuff on my CC that was on file. I got a call on Christmas day...but Amazon had foiled it, since it was not sent to my address; they called and asked if I had bought the stuff and I said no.

Anyhow...new CC, and I simply do not use a debit card except to get cash from the ATM. I have a weekly cash budget that I do for all my local spending, including gasoline, and use the CC only for online purchases. So far, Amazon is the only one that has gone awry.

I do still write checks locally for larger things, but have not so far had a problem.

Most home owner insurance now has ID theft coverage, in which they will help with the resolution.

MA

[willbrett]

I recently found out that my debit card had been hacked for nearly $700. Three purchases in Dubai. The bank actually called me... if I hadn't had my iPhone handy, and checked my account while I was on the phone, I would have thought it was a fake phone call. I was nearly immediately credited the money, had to sign a couple of forms, and that's about it. Easy as pie, for now. Here's hopin' that the claims are approved!