i got a call from a telemarketer trying to sell me on a trip to Fl. she asked if i wanted to use my credit card, i told her that i didnt have one, so she insisted that i had, and that it was up on her screen that i had a master card, so i got worried about identity theft and went online to check it out. but because i don't (as far as i know) have a credit card, i couldn't use the free credit reports on line, is there a nother way to find out about an identity theft with out having to use a credit card?
216470
I wish people would stop recommending these sites where you have to subscribe to some service to get your credit report.\n\nIn 2004 Congress passed a law requiring the 3 credit bureaus to give every one a free copy of their credit report once a year.\n\nThat site is www.annualcreditreport.com.\n\nALL OTHER SITES CHARGE YOU!!!\n\nGood Luck
265426
NO!  Why would they need them.  You probably have to provide them with a report on the money in questions but, NOT an account number.  Why would they need that?  They wouldn't have any access to the account if their name isn't on it.  Sounds fishy to me -
420384
i dont know , if you have never asked for an other card or an acount from your bank then it could be a scam , in your positon will call my bank and verify using the number from the yallew page not that number, if it not right i will report it ,u have to always to verify because it could be a big scam that some one trying to get to your debit card info"number and exparation date ,name" to get to your money ,because it easy to make ppl believe that them bank calling them by using the computer generating system , to be honest i have never trusted even my credit card when they call me ,i awlays tell them that i will call them back and i use the real number that i know and i ask for that department if it exist then i ask what was the reason for calling me , any way never give your personal info t any one and goog luck
547059
Hello,\n\nYou should contact the store and ask if they can provide you with receipts for purchases during this time period.\n\nIf the purchases were not made by you, but money has been taken from your card to fund purchases; then you should get on to your account provider and explain the situation (as your card may have been cloned or details stolen).\n\nThanks
627252
I need more info before giving you any good advice.  \n\nIf someone got credit in your name, and you are claiming the debt is not yours, then there is a procedure already in place regarding ID Theft.  Go to the first link below and read up.\n\nYou first need to contact the local police department and get a report.  Then you will need to contact the creditors who are after you and inform them that the debt is not yours.  Send them a copy of the police report, plus a signed and notorized affidavid saying your ID was stolen and this is not your debt.\n\nIt's up to them to prove it's yours, not the other way around! \n\nNow, to clean up your credit, examine the Fair Credit Reporting Act, and the Fair and Accurate Credit Reporting Act.  These laws detail exactly what you must do.\n\nFollow these instructions carefully!\n\nSend a dispute letter to the Credit Reporting Agencies demanding that the listing be removed.\n\nSend a "demand to validate" letter to the creditor, and demand that they prove this is your debt.\n\nIf this does not solve the problem, you can sue them in small claims court.\n\nThis is exactly what happened to me.  Someone used my ID to get a Holleywood Video account and run up $300 in charges.  It went to collections agency and ended up on my credit report.\n\nI did the letter writing stuff, but they still wouldn't take the listing off.  So I went to small claims court.\n\nThe credit bureau settled for $200.  The collection agent decided to fight me, and it cost them $1000 plus court fees.  \n\nThe reason they get away with this stuff is because consumers don't understand the law!  \n\nContact me if you need more advice or support.
659160
If the thieves intend to use the data for fraud, they will most likely not start doing so until the fraud alerts that most of us have filed expire, three months from now.\n\nSince the credit-reporting companies are required to provide you with one free credit report a year, if you request it, and there are three companies like this, you could stagger your requests to them so that you get a report from a different company once every four months.\n\nI think that's a pretty big hassle, though. If organizations can't be more reasonable about how they collect and store information about us, they could at least send us copies of the information they're collecting automatically.
476466
I am not sure about where you are, but in the UK a retailer is free to set whatever limit they want for charge cards - often £5 minimum payment.\n\nAs for ID, if the person was purchasing alcohol for example, they may be REQUIRED to see ID, credit card or not.\n\nIf the retailer feels the card may be stolen, they should do a "code 10" call - iirc - to check the card's validity
363326
Call your card company and tell them ur wallet was stolen and the card was used. You should not be held liable for fraudulent activity. This is one good reason why I always write on the back of my cards "See photo ID." With a lot of stores, if your photo ID doesn't match the information on the card, they will not accept it. This happened to me when my mom gave me permission to use her card to buy some new clothes. They had to call my mom to get permission for me to use her card.
332233
Yes. This is a good tip (probaby the best use of 5 points on Yahoo! Answers I've seen yet!).\n\nThere are 3 credit bureaus. I'd recommend separating the 3 free credit reports over the year (rather than getting them all at once) to keep an eye on your credit. With so much identity theft out there, this is one great tool to try to stop it early if it happens to you.\n\nThanks!
591550
You can't just change the number.  If there was going to be an identity theft, you'd know by now.  You can always check your credit.
657716
She probably used you as a reference when getting the account in the first place, which is how they got your number.  If you have the same last name, they may have done internet searches as well.  It's very common.\n\nDocument the times they call and you talk to them.  You can sue them for harrassment if they don't stop contacting you, particularly since you told them this is not your debt.
438483
I understand your frustration. This happened to me with a "trip" I didn't want.\nSome company charged a trip to my card and when I called to contest it they said they talked to me on the phone and I agreed to buy the trip. I said no, play the recording for me. They wouldn't. I called my credit card company and told them take it off I don't want it. I don't have any part of the "trip" in my posession. The card company took it off and two months later put it right back on. I was furious, felt like I had been robbed. I had a lawyer call them and threaten them with a law suit.\n\nSeems to me your cable company could have authorized a credit to your card instead of making you wait.  \n\nIn the future, tell them you are recording the conversation because I have had so many instances of failed promises and twisted statements I could barf. Get a recorder that hooks to the phone line and turns on when any voice is there. Radio shack has them. They take a standard cassette tape and you can pause it if it is just a friendly conversation.\n\nTry not to let this throw for a loop. It most likely was a mistake not an attempt to rip you off. They most likely process thousands of forms a day.  But imagine if your card was close to max and that put you over the limit. You would have a fee of anywhere from $19 to $29! \n\nI got fed up with the constantly increasing rates of cable and switched to satellite.\n\nGood luck ...............
37550
You need to dispute it in WRITING. A phone call will not be of any legal help at all. Also, file a police report about recieving unsolicited material. You could be the victim of identity theft.
488026
Good question.\n\nLets try to sort this out.\n\nI believe that every phone call is documented by all phone companies.\n\nIt is true that if some one made a call with a credit card, there would be computer documentation as to what "credit card" was used and the owner of the credit card.\n\nIf you used coins to make a phone call from a Public Telephone, the Phone company has a record that a call was made from the public phone booth to a specific number and that the call costs "X" dollars and the call had a duration time of "Y" minutes.\n\nHowever, there is no record of who made the telephone call, unless the phone booth was "tapped" and the calls recorded for a specific legal reason...ie...drug sales, prostitution. A court Order would be required to tap that specific phone boot.\n\nI suggest that you call your States Attorney Generals office for a Definite legal explanation. The states and the Federal government regulate the Phone companies...MCI, Verizon, Att and T.\n\nIf you are not satisfied with the explanation from the AGs office, consult with an attorney.\n\nBest of Luck to you. The Laws are to protect Innocent people.
76661
Did this woman tell you what company she was from? And did you get her name? Call up the company and investigate this call. You might have been hacked. I mean, if you bought the phone at the store, why would they need to confirm anything over the phone? Confirmations are only done if you purchased something over the web - and you said you didn't.\nGet to your card issuer ASAP. There are usually procedures for this and you might be able to get your money back.
451413
always very important 2 update and run your anti and spyware.. everyday if needed.. because as you know now , your comp is not protected.. i wouldn't do bill paying on comp..scan  2 protect yourself, you can either open a new account and delete the old.. 2 do this, sign out at top of mail room and start the sign back in, click new user.. and on this new account, put in a fake name and address.. then click options on mail home page, over 2 your right, and click mail addresses and highlight your old name and click delete.. if you want 2 keep your old account, then update and scan your comp, then sign into your mail account and change password.. if you haven't done this already, call the big 3 credit card holders and have them put a red flag on your name.. even if you don't have credit cards.. have them put a stop from anyone opening a card in your name.. 1-800-525-6285.. www.equifax.com...1-888-397-3742...www.experian.com... 1-800-680-7289.. www.transunion.com.. also see www.consumer.gov/idtheft...www.ftc.gov/credit.. bummer eh.. never open mail of unknowen, never put your addy in profile or in open chat, never use a name or screen name that will lead back 2 your mail account..
604960
That credit board site looks like a link farm to me. You can place a statement of up to 100 words on each credit report.\n\nUnfortunately, credit bureaus are not very consumer friendly and intentionally avoid telephone contact. My experience is that if you find a sales number, call that. It always gets answered by a human being. They can then transfer your call to the appropriate department.