And I thought things couldn't get worse!

**sunray16** · 11-30-2007, 09:01 PM

I got a phone call this morning that I completely didn't expect and basically ruined my day. The fraud division of my bank called me and told me that 4 charges (totaling about $400) went through on my DEBIT card from London last night. :surprise: I just couldn't believe it! DH and I are SOOOO careful when it comes to personal information and protecting our identites. I have no idea how our card information was stolen.

So, they cancelled the card and will be reissuing new ones. They are sending us dispute forms and once those are processed, they will put a "provisional credit" on our account for the money that was taken. I guess then they will investigate the fraud.

I'm just so upset about this. We live paycheck to paycheck as it is and the first of the month (tomorrow) is when a HUGE portion of our monthly bills are due. I can't afford to lose $400 for who knows how long.

And now I'm worried about what other information or accounts could have been compromised. Has anyone here had their identity stolen? What steps should I take? I just don't even know where to begin. I'm completely paranoid about credit or debit accounts and want to start using cash for everything. I'm afraid to leave money in the bank now.

**bumplett** · 11-30-2007, 10:07 PM

I'm sooo sorry that this happened to you - I have no advice, I've never had to deal with it - but I just wanted to send you a

kudos to your bank for letting you know as soon as they did. I know this stinks, but just think of how bad it COULD have been -

**dolphin** · 11-30-2007, 10:11 PM

First, go to your Internet Tools and pick options. Delete all temporary files and then delete all cookies. You will have to sign in to all of your websites again. Change 'all' of your passwords. make sure they have atleast 1 capital letter and atleast 1 number in the password.

Do not open any email that is not from someone you know. Don't trust 'anyone'. If it's from the bank, ignore it and call your bank to see if they sent it. Never put any of your vital information into a link that was supplied by an email. Always go to the actual website and enter your username and password there.

Run a virus scan.

If you need specific instructions oh how to do all of this, let me know and I'll get it for you, step, by step.

**Dixie** · 11-30-2007, 10:41 PM

I'm sorry you're having to deal with this.
My dh and I were victims of fraud, last January. Our bank account was frozen for 10 days, until the investigation was completed. It was very frustrating.

**anonymous1** · 11-30-2007, 10:52 PM

Yes do change all your passwords etc. That is one reason why I hate using a debit card. At least with a credit card you usually don't loose money from your checking account. But isn't that what getting out of debt is all about? I have cut up all my credit cards but 1. Was your debit a visa check card? It has a zero liability if your number was stolen!

Stephanie

**justpeachy92** · 12-01-2007, 12:15 AM

Your account could have been comprimed by using your debit card at a store. This happened to me a couple of years ago. We were never able to determine from what store though. Stores are not supposed to do this, but some of them when you use your debit card there, their computer stores your account # and pin. If the store computer gets hacked into, then thieves are able to make a dummy debit card and withdraw money from ATM machines. When this happened to me our bank gave back the money that was withdrawn, but I still had to pay the international atm fee. That was like $20 each withdrawl, 3 total were made from our account. The bank put a freeze on my card when their computer noticed that 3 transactions were trying to come in at the same time, one was me trying to pay for groceries that was denied, so embarrassing I tell ya, someone was trying to withdraw money in Texas and someone trying to withdraw money in Africa. At the time I lived in Florida. When this happened to me I didn't do any shopping online so new my account wasn't compromised there. My debit card is a visa check card. When using it in a store I only run it as credit, then I have to sign and my pin# isn't entered in the store computer. When I need cash I only using the ATM machine at my bank and if the bank is open I go to the teller and write out a check for cash. As for shopping online, I have started doing that but only with a store gift card or a Vsa giftcard, so my personal account information isn't at risk. As for the investigation, that took less then a week. I went to my bank and picked up the papers, filled them out and returned them in person. Someone called and asked if I had someone that could verify I was indeed in my home state when my account was accessed in Africa, the transacations that went through before my card was froze. I told them that the teachers to 3 of my children could verify I was here because I has conferences with them prior to going to the grocery store.

**ilovechocolate** · 12-01-2007, 10:31 AM

I just read something recently, on Mary Hunt's website I think, about using your debit card over the phone.

www.debtproofliving.com

**mikandmari** · 12-01-2007, 11:03 AM

Your bank was really on the ball for catching this so quickly! The money should be back in your account within a couple of days (banks must do this, and if they later found out that the account holder did make the charges, they would just re-charge the account). The form you are about to sign is an affidavit stating you did not make the charges. Under a certain amount the bank will just write off... it isn't even worth their time to pursue the jerks who did this. Not sure if $400 is over the limit or not.

Contact the 3 major credit bureaus right away. This site provides links to each of them: https://www.annualcreditreport.com/cra/index.jsp

They have info on what to do if you've been a victim of identity theft. You can make sure the crooks haven't opened any accounts in your names, and also place a "security freeze" on your credit reports.

Good luck and let us know how it goes!

**forHISglory** · 12-01-2007, 11:09 AM

Just one more thing in addition to the very excellent advice given here. Call your local bank to be sure that the phone call originated with the bank. Sometimes criminals will call you to say there is a problem, garner some info that they need, make all sorts of statements such as we'll be sending you these papers, blah, blah, blah. And then it's too late. So call your local bank as soon as possible. I'm so sorry this happened to you.

**sunray16** · 12-01-2007, 11:23 AM

Thanks for all the good advice. I checked our credit reports this morning and they look ok. I will still contact the credit agencies though.

Originally Posted by forHISglory

Just one more thing in addition to the very excellent advice given here. Call your local bank to be sure that the phone call originated with the bank. Sometimes criminals will call you to say there is a problem, garner some info that they need, make all sorts of statements such as we'll be sending you these papers, blah, blah, blah. And then it's too late. So call your local bank as soon as possible. I'm so sorry this happened to you.

This is actually the first thing I did. I got the message and immediately called my bank before returning the message just to make sure it wasn't a bogus call. That's how careful I am...I still have NO clue how they got my info.

**pkellyc** · 12-01-2007, 08:45 PM

I rarely use my credit cards. I have one that I have not used in over a year. I went to best buy and bought a new computer. Upon checking out the clerk was making a rubbing of my cc. I have never had this done before and it was explained to me that the computers were down. I complained to manager who assured me this was done all the time. I let it go but believe me he knew I did not like it one bit.

I do pay the card on line but I had not visited my account on line in over a year. Not only that but I was paying the bill with a brand new computer with nothing stored on it. Well it came time to pay the bill the following month and low and behold there was a $10 charge that I did not make. Some photo company. I called my CC co. canceled my card for a new one and changed my password. But what irritated me was the fact that because it was only $10 the CC company really thought it was a joke.
All I could think of was $10 today $10,000 tomorrow.

**Mom23boys** · 12-01-2007, 09:11 PM

Oh no! That is scary! I am glad that your bank caught it before any more charges were posted and that they informed you.

**dianne9106** · 12-01-2007, 09:24 PM

I am so sorry that this has happened to you! It is a good thing your bank was on top of things. I know $400 is a lot to you, but count yourself very lucky - $400 USD is less than 200 GBP. We just moved from England to the US (in the military) and the exchange rate is now about $2.15 to 1 GBP!! Best Wishes and good vibes!

Dianne