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ID THEFT? shred....shred...shred! I was a victim

By
Real Estate Agent with Brokered by eXp Realty LLC SL # 3014652

 

 

During the holidays I had the pleasure of becoming a victim of ID theft.

I actually found out about it before the bank did.

I started to see all these overdraft charges and then noticed all these very large withdrawals of cash from our bank account.

I even saw the checks, and the signatures weren't even close

Well...it turns out that the criminals actually got a hold of an old drivers license in a city I used to live in, stole checks from 2 other people in CA , wrote the checks to me and deposited them in  my account in Alabama, then cashed them.

That is the way they do it, they steal from Peter to pay Paul.

My bank, police, federal,state law officials are currently investigating this, and we did get all our money back.

The hassle is more that I was entertaining that week and needed to get cash out to pay for the food and drink.

The other hassles were, closing the old accounts,opening new ones, ordering new checks,calling all my creditors,credit unions to place alarms on my identity,filing complaints with the FTC,etc.

In my opinion, they must have either worked at the DMV or broke inot their location ,or the an employee of the bank was in on it, or even the post office, who knows, but I refuse to give up on catching these people who want to ruin someones life that worked hard to get where they are.

It is amazing how they were not only able to cash checks without my signature card, and even how they knew what actual bank I use.

My question is, what is the sense of having a signature card if it is not used and obviously it was not as my signature is nothing like the fake one, you would think a teller would want to check CA checks for large amounts,cashed in Alabama,from a FL account, no answer from anyone!

These criminals are like terrorists that plan these things out way ahead of time and strike like ninjas.

They do this like an every day job, and most get away with it.

Even though the chances of catching them are nil,I refuse to let up and hope I can see the videos and send them to the gallos!

I hope those bloodsuckers burn in h-ll!

So please....if you have any paper with any type of personal information on it ,please make sure you shred it all.

If anyone calls you and asks for your SS#, ask them why they need it and what they are using it for,and refuse to give it to them no matter what.

Even when I requested the alarm on my account to be placed there for more than the 90 days, they want you to send them a police report and request in writting,your SS# which i will not mail to them, they should have it already,it is a joke.

Make the investment in a good shredder and take alittle more time out and SHRED SHRED SHRED!

Posted by

Neal Bloom

Comments(28)

Anna Wiseman
RE/MAX Lifestyle - Denver, NC

Neal,

Unfortunately I too was a victim.  Someone in New York opened a phone under my name.  The phone company sent me a bill and asked if I had ever lived in New York.  I am from North Carolina and I sound like a from North Carolina.  I told her she was crazy did I sound like I was from New York.  Good luck with everything

Mar 13, 2007 10:05 AM
Neal Bloom
Brokered by eXp Realty LLC - Weston, FL
Realtor CRS-Weston FL Real Estate

Look at this crap I received, must be partners with the Nigerian scam.

Name:Miss Grace Johnson
Email Address:grace16johnson@yahoo.com
Subject:From Miss Grace Johnson
IP:196.201.74.28
Message:From Miss Grace Johnson
Avenue45 Rue 56 Macory Abidjan,Cote d'Ivoire
Email: grace16johnson@yahoo.com

Dear One,
Permit me to inform you of my desire of going into long time relatioship and financial transaction for our mutual benefits hence I write with due respect .I am Miss Grace Johnson and I inherited an important sum of money from my late father who died in a recent crisis in Cote d'Ivoire. I wish to request for your assistance in investing this money in a lucrative venture under your directives and guidiance in your country. I want you to assist me for the transfer of this sum of Three million, Five hundred thousand United State Dollars.($3.500,000)to your account designate hence I will give you the contact of the bank where the money is so that you can contact them immediately and discuss with them since I do not know much about financial issues. I will give you some resonable percentage from the total sum for your assistance while I pray that you do not betray me at last. Please it is important you contact me immediately for more clarifications on the next step hence it is my wish to relocate to your country as soon as this transaction is concluded.
Awaiting your immediate response via this email address: grace16johnson@yahoo.com
God bless you.
Miss Grace Johnson.

Mar 17, 2007 12:53 AM
Wendy Bloom
Benefit Mall - Weston, FL
Thank god that is over with!
Mar 29, 2007 12:38 AM
Beth Bastian
Rosemont Financial Inc - Simi Valley, CA
Simi Valley Real Estate

 

I became a victim at the tender age of 14, and it lasted until I was 23.  I had to file for disability and I was turned down, because another person was already drawing on it.  After proving I was who I said I was I got the situation resolved.  Mind you this person had his way with my credit, but I was 14 at that time, so it really did not hurt me that bad.  However still to this day I can not get a phone with Pac-Bell because I was not able to prove to them that I did not live in No. Cal when I was 14.

Mar 29, 2007 05:09 PM
Dianne Barody
Century 21 AmeriSouth Realty - Pensacola, FL
Pensacola Florida Real Estate
Sorry about being a victim.  did  you watch Dateline the other night?  It was all about Identity theft. Very insightful. 
Apr 04, 2007 03:09 AM
Neal Bloom
Brokered by eXp Realty LLC - Weston, FL
Realtor CRS-Weston FL Real Estate

Hi Dianne,

No I did not watch it, it probably was a repeat, being that i have done so much research on this being a victim myself, I already heard so much repeditive information, and the outcome was, they showed me photos of the culprits, but they never can catch them, they do this like we get up in the morning and go to work, that is their regular jobs, preying off of honest people like us.

If I happen to ever catch someone in the act,it would be a painful experience for them, they are messing with the wrong person

Apr 04, 2007 03:13 AM
Jane E. Haas
Jane Haas Photography - Davenport, FL
Hate to say it, but I too was a victim when my account was at bank of america.  They were AWFUL to deal with!  I had to make the claim at least 4 times, the bank manager also put in the claim a few times - they kept denying my claim!  Someone bought plane tickets using my name and debit card.  Now, if they weren't being such jerks they could have had someone waiting at the airport, but nooo... i have no clue what they were thinking.  They had refunded the amount I the claim in for, then denied the claim while i was on vacation and took the money back AND added several overdraft charges on top of it, and added more because their reversal caused more bounces!  Now i'm at Commerce, nicer to deal with!  =D
Apr 20, 2007 07:42 PM
Neal Bloom
Brokered by eXp Realty LLC - Weston, FL
Realtor CRS-Weston FL Real Estate

Jane,

I got my money back within 2 days,but the investigation basically ended with survielence photos of 6 different people and the teller actually let them withdraw right in the back..but it was 3 separate locations in Alabama...I have a very high alert now so there is no  way they can do it without my knowlege.

They returned all ,oney including all overdraft charges.

I am not a fan of Bank America either...but I won't get into why.

Sorry to hear you were a victim as well

Apr 20, 2007 11:24 PM
Matthew J Blum - (retired from the business)
Palm Beach Gardens, FL
Neal,  Words to live by "When it Doubt Shred it"
Apr 21, 2007 12:48 AM
Neal Bloom
Brokered by eXp Realty LLC - Weston, FL
Realtor CRS-Weston FL Real Estate

Matt,

I shred everything I can,you never know who might steal.

Apr 21, 2007 02:11 AM
Margaret Woda
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. - Crofton, MD
Maryland Real Estate & Military Relocation

I had  little different experience, but it relates to this.  I accidentally put a $500 check written to my daughter in an envelope for my monthly subscription to Dr. Seuss books for my grandkids.  Scholastic Books cashed it.  We noticed right away, and went straight to our bank.  They said there was nothing they could do.  After hours and hours and hours on the phone, we finally got Scholastic Books to credit our account the $500.  All was well for about 2 days, until Scholastic Books RE-DEPOSITED the check.  This went on and on and on.  The bottom line is to warn you that anyone can apparently cash or deposit your signed check, even if it is not made out to them, and your bank cannot/will not do anything to protect you - at least in Maryland.  If you combine this info with Neal's post... just imagne the havoc if/when someone gets ahold of your checks as well as your identity.

Apr 21, 2007 02:27 AM
Neal Bloom
Brokered by eXp Realty LLC - Weston, FL
Realtor CRS-Weston FL Real Estate

Margaret,

Actually I just signed a very expensive lease with a client and the rent is to be directly deposited into the landlords account and the clients were going to put the bank account info on the lease..I told them to do it separate in case someone gets a hold of the lease for protection.

Thanks for stopping by.

Apr 21, 2007 02:31 AM
Jane E. Haas
Jane Haas Photography - Davenport, FL
You can also call social security and put a fraud guard on your SS# - if anyone tries to do anything in your name with SS# they will call you immediately.  As for BOA - I finally got reimbursed, but that was 7 months of fighting with them and they reported me to chex systems so i couldn't open an account anywhere else -  but commerce bank doesn't use that system so I opened it there.  Happy I did too - their hours rock! 
Apr 21, 2007 03:32 AM
Neal Bloom
Brokered by eXp Realty LLC - Weston, FL
Realtor CRS-Weston FL Real Estate

Jane,

I have done all the above and more..I even filed a police report and had it investigated...they will never catch them...it wasn't a local thing..and it was filed with the federal trade commission as well.

Believe me...I'm all covered...if I had my way the would hang at the gallows.

Apr 21, 2007 05:17 AM
Jim & Maria Hart
Brand Name Real Estate - Charleston, SC
Charleston, SC Real Estate

I was a victim a few years back, too.  But my incident happened through PayPal.  I'm not going to get into the whole thing, but I ended up getting all of my money back.  And fortunately it didn't affect my credit.  It's just so scary how easy it is for criminals these days.

Apr 21, 2007 01:05 PM
Neal Bloom
Brokered by eXp Realty LLC - Weston, FL
Realtor CRS-Weston FL Real Estate
Yes, I too got the money back and it did not effect my credit..the trouble is I found out about it before the bank..so they were able to start to find the trail quicker,but of course they never caught them and I knew that.
Apr 21, 2007 01:10 PM
Laura Cerrano
Feng Shui Manhattan Long Island - Locust Valley, NY
Certified Feng Shui Expert, Speaker & Researcher
Neal, what a problem, I'm sorry to hear about it.  I recently was notified by my INSURANCE COMPANY that hey had "missing" discs with personal information on it....I called my credit card company and SS office to put a fraud protector on it....thank you for sharing, it reminds me to be more careful then I already am!
Apr 22, 2007 01:22 PM
Paula Henry
Home to Indy Team @ HomeSmart Realty Group - Avon, IN
Realtor - Indianapolis Real Estate - 317-605-4174

Neal - We also shred everything!! Can't take chances! I get those scams all the time too. Do they actually think someone is stupid enough to respond. Do people respond to this? That's scary!

On a positive note.......my daughter left her purse in the grocery cart and someone turned it in, nothing taken!

Apr 22, 2007 01:47 PM
Christopher Webster
EXP Realty, LLC - Columbia, SC
Columbia South Carolina Real Estate For Sale
Imagine your twin sister stealing identity! She had a child om my ex wifes insurance. We all had the Chris in our names. insurance company said, too bad we already paid!
Apr 22, 2007 02:57 PM
Neal Bloom
Brokered by eXp Realty LLC - Weston, FL
Realtor CRS-Weston FL Real Estate

Carole,

I have learned to be more careful and really felt violated.

Paula,

I can't say I had my purse taken ,but they did take a bit of money right out of the account.

Chris,

Not understanding what you wrote other than your ex wives sister stole her identity?

Apr 22, 2007 10:58 PM