Identity Theft

**doug1980** · 01-28-2010, 01:53 AM

Have you heard of it? I have but thought it highly unlikely to happen to me or anyone I know. Well in a matter of 2 months my wife has had one of her credit cards used by someone, her Government purchase card was also used and her personal email account was hacked into. Both credit cards were Military oriented, one being the card she uses to buy supplies for the Military Hospital where she works. We have been trying to figure out how, when or where these people got this information. In the age of computers and online buying and banking it seems very likely that this could happen to anyone. Bt the question is how. We shred everything, we are very cautious and try our best to be vigilant, yet it still happened. The stranget part is it all happened on Military accounts that are supposed to be very secure. Today her email was tampered with and her password was changed. What a crazy world we live in. Nothing is safe.

**Winnie** · 01-28-2010, 05:34 AM

Sounds like you need to beef up security on your computer. I've got one with all the bells and whistles. It even hides keystrokes I make to prevent kelogging(think that's what it's called)

**oldsoldier** · 01-28-2010, 06:34 AM

Does the Bill/statement come to your wife? If so does your mail come to a normal box ( typical front door mailbox or a secure/locked box? If it is not a secure box and she gets the bill, someone could have easily took it from your box steamed open the envelope, copied the information and resealed the envelope and returned it to your box seemingly undisturbed. OR gotten the actual card before she recieved it ( if mailed to her) "scanned" the card and made a duplicate. Both of these methods have been used before many times, as well as people "dumpster diving" and getting paperwork from a retailer's trash. No matter how secure you are yourself crooks seem to find most of the loopholes and back doors. At least ( unless I am reading your post wrong) it was not your personal info/accounts that were hacked. Being government accounts maybe they can bring more resources to bear in finding the theives than you can. I suggest using a security program as winnie suggested. There are several good one's that wipe all that kind of info from your computer instantly after use to prevent hacking later and blocks sent info from intercept. That may be what they intend to do by hacking her E-mail is to intersept any personal/account info via e-mails she sends regarding this incident. I would suggest using an alternaite E-mail for sorting this out or better yet handling it by phone or fax. Good luck! Hope everthing works out okay.

**Rick** · 01-28-2010, 10:41 AM

Is the email account a military account? If so then it may well be someone in the base I.T. group. Anything you type in can be viewed unless it's across a "secure" connection and then that only prevents most folks from seeing it. If you have someone from I.T. that wants the info they will get it. I'd certainly report it to base security and if her email address is her military email then I'd dang sure report it. Chances are it's happening to others as well.

You might also talk to the folks where the card was used and find out where the merchandise was sent to if mailed or if they have security cams from the time of purchase if it occurred in person.

**Ole WV Coot** · 01-28-2010, 11:06 AM

I had to change my debit card number because of a $19 purchase. I have no idea how, I just use Quicken to list purchases and check the bank every couple of days to see if their total matches mine. It was off by $19 so I found an odd purchase, called the bank and went in for a new card. No way the computer was hacked, don't use it online for purchases, don't use a PIN number either. Guess constant checking is the only way.

**Byte Me** · 01-28-2010, 11:09 AM

If you ever used it with paypal or ebay i would guess that to be a good start. I had my business card jacked twice from paypal. As far as the email account it could be the same, you use your email address to have confimations sent to you or shipping info. Do you use the same password for email and ebay/paypal. Is your password for these accounts a minimum of 8 char including capital, lowercase, numbers & special characters if the site allows.

**doug1980** · 01-28-2010, 01:08 PM

Well luckily the credit cards were red flagged because whoever got her info was in Canada. So currently the issue is solved and we have taken steps to prevent it again. All of our personal info was redone, new PW and everything. We have theft protection on all out personal CC and Bank accounts. Just goes to show that even on a Military Base where you should be safe, it can still happen. I have always been suspicious about purchasing things over the net, now I'm even moreso.

**crashdive123** · 01-28-2010, 01:22 PM

Doug - you've probably already done this, but put a fraud alert out on all three credit bureaus. Do not rely on one to notify the other two - do it yourself. Here's the contact info.

Equifax
Consumer Fraud Division
Phone: 800-525-6285 or: 404-885-8000
Fax: 770-375-2821
P.O. Box 740241
Atlanta, GA 30374-0241

Experian
Experian's National Consumer Assistance
Phone: 888-397-3742
P.O. Box 2104
Allen, TX 75013

TransUnion
Fraud Victim Assistance Department
Phone: 800-680-7289
Fax: 714-447-6034
P.O. Box 6790
Fullerton, CA 92634-6790

**doug1980** · 01-28-2010, 01:29 PM

Thanks Crash I believe my wife is doing that today but I'm sure this info will help. I guess my credit isn't good enough for people to want.

No one has tried to get mine.

**crashdive123** · 01-28-2010, 01:39 PM

One of the big things with identity theft is that new accounts could be opened in your name and you wouldn't even know about it. With the fraud alert (I would renew it after 6 months) is that a new account cannot be opened in your name without positive ID verification. It's kind of a PITA if you want to open a new one or take out a loan, but it really is worth the headache. Prevention whenever possible is much more palatable than cure.