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Good luck with this. There are way too many scammers out there these days and they seem to have easy access to all of our information. It makes you wonder if any of the website security systems really work that well.
DigitalDragon wrote:
Quote:You may also wish to get a recent copy of your credit report(s) from all the credit reporting agencies (Equifax, TransUnion and one other, I think), and check to see if anyone’s stolen your identity and possibly made applications for loans in your name. A credit check by banks or other lenders should show up on your report if the application went that far.
The third is Experion. Contact one of them and report this. Usually if you contact one the other two will get the information. Also file a police report. Freeze or close your bank accounts/credit cards and open new ones. Add a code word to your bank account(s). You should be able to get a free credit report at annualcreditreport dot com.
Best of luck.
Sorry to be picky laphon, but it’s Experian…
Also you might want to contact your state’s District Attorney… They might be interested in this little scheme… Good luck, and let us know how it works out…
Like everyone else has stated, I would suggest closing that account and opening another immediately and I would also suggest changing the passwords to any online bank accounts you have. Do notify one of those three (Experian, Equifax, etc.), the police, your bank, and also let the state attorney general know about the scam (if they can track it and figure out where they are located, they will get them). Since no one has mentioned this I will relay this useful tidbit I learned from my parents and sister-in-law:
Never use a debit/credit card online, or a debit card for that matter if at all possible. Use a card that is strictly a credit card. Debit/credit cards have a direct link to your bank account and are advised against for using to make online purchases because of this, hence are riskier. The credit card backing on debit cards allows a user to use that card in locations that otherwise not allow use of a debit card, because you can use it like a credit card (though it really isn’t one). If a debit card is stolen and used, unless your bank has a policy about it (many do not), any money lost is not protected and they are not obligated to refund you that money. Credit card companies usually do, hence more protection against fraudulant purchases. Also, the sooner you report things the better!
Essentially, if someone steals your debit card and blows $1000 on it, you will likely never see it back (if it drains your account, some banks may try to get the excess amount that your account couldn’t cover from you!) unless your bank is extra nice and has a policy to refund in case of a stolen card. If your credit card is stolen and blows $1000 on it, you will not be held for those charges.
I found a really good link about this online, but it’s on my home pc. It had to do with identity theft. I’ll have to dig it up!
I’ve never gone through Expedia myself, so I don’t know if there is something in the fine print or not about giving info to 3rd party companies. Still, this totally sounds like a scam, whether they got the info legally or not.
Also, to answer a question, no, I don’t believe any US state (I know the US on a federal level does not), require companies to notify you if they are giving your info out. Usually, if they do, it is somewhere in the fine print and is overlooked if you agreed to it. If it’s accidently agreed to, you will likely never know how many people will get it (usually thousands of companies, whether they use it or not).
I hope you get it cleared up and def watch your account. Also, I use Creditexpert.com to monitor my credit. They are cheap and very helpful with incorrect information that you want removed. 🙂 I wish I knew how to track where they got your info. Good luck with this. 🙁
siberakh1 wrote:Like everyone else has stated, I would suggest closing that account and opening another immediately and I would also suggest changing the passwords to any online bank accounts you have. Do notify one of those three (Experian, Equifax, etc.), the police, your bank, and also let the state attorney general know about the scam (if they can track it and figure out where they are located, they will get them). Since no one has mentioned this I will relay this useful tidbit I learned from my parents and sister-in-law:
Never use a debit/credit card online, or a debit card for that matter if at all possible. Use a card that is strictly a credit card. Debit/credit cards have a direct link to your bank account and are advised against for using to make online purchases because of this, hence are riskier. The credit card backing on debit cards allows a user to use that card in locations that otherwise not allow use of a debit card, because you can use it like a credit card (though it really isn’t one). If a debit card is stolen and used, unless your bank has a policy about it (many do not), any money lost is not protected and they are not obligated to refund you that money. Credit card companies usually do, hence more protection against fraudulant purchases. Also, the sooner you report things the better!
Essentially, if someone steals your debit card and blows $1000 on it, you will likely never see it back (if it drains your account, some banks may try to get the excess amount that your account couldn’t cover from you!) unless your bank is extra nice and has a policy to refund in case of a stolen card. If your credit card is stolen and blows $1000 on it, you will not be held for those charges.
I found a really good link about this online, but it’s on my home pc. It had to do with identity theft. I’ll have to dig it up!
I’ve never gone through Expedia myself, so I don’t know if there is something in the fine print or not about giving info to 3rd party companies. Still, this totally sounds like a scam, whether they got the info legally or not.
Also, to answer a question, no, I don’t believe any US state (I know the US on a federal level does not), require companies to notify you if they are giving your info out. Usually, if they do, it is somewhere in the fine print and is overlooked if you agreed to it. If it’s accidently agreed to, you will likely never know how many people will get it (usually thousands of companies, whether they use it or not).
Yikes! That’s not good! But I had no choice but to use my debit card, since I’m $230 over my limit on my CC. 😳 I just cut it up today, I hate Citibank. Once they get their payments in full, Im finding a better CC Company. Anyhoo,I tired calling this strange company for more information, and they were no more help than the first time. Unfortuantly, I have too many other battles going on (balancing life, and the fight with the Post office etc) to mess with them right now 😥 But I will check out some of those sites you guys suggested. Definatly want to get a copy of my credit report!All of you be careful not to check your credit tons of times…Everytime you do, it drops your score a few points…Trust me. 😥
WindstoneCollector wrote:All of you be careful not to check your credit tons of times…Everytime you do, it drops your score a few points…Trust me. 😥
Erm…how exactly does *that* work? I don’t see how checking your reports can hurt your score…
Ordering your credit report does NOT harm your credit. Inquiries harm your credit. Those are what lenders do to see how deep in debt you are and to look at your credit score. Its them checking your credit report, not you. If there are multiple inquiries, it shows you are out looking for lots of credit. That hurts your score. You can order your report every day if you want to. It does not affect your score one bit. 🙂
I don’t know why it is true but it is. For example, they recommend if you are car shopping not to have every place check your credit – only do it when you are ready to buy.
The other weird thing is that if you pay off your CCs every month that also damages your credit rating. Something about how they want to see how you manage debt.
ddvm wrote:I don’t know why it is true but it is. For example, they recommend if you are car shopping not to have every place check your credit – only do it when you are ready to buy.
The other weird thing is that if you pay off your CCs every month that also damages your credit rating. Something about how they want to see how you manage debt.
Yep. They want to get interest off you. Its how they make money. If you pay your bill off in full each month before the billing cycle, you are not paying interest on that money. Its basically a free loan. What they hope to see is about 50% of the credit used and not too much credit to debt ratio. That way they are making money off you, but you are not too deep in debt, so can obviously manage money. Sorry to monopolize… I know alot about credit. 😳
gryphondreamer wrote:aren’t managing the money if you pay it off each month???
Yes. Money, not debt. The whole point of credit card and loan companies is to make money. If they are not making it off you, you are no good to them. Who do you think has a hand in determining what factors raise and lower your score? Lenders. You are not handling debt, only your money. There is a difference. They want to see how you handle repayment of debts so they are more likely to get their money…and then some… back from you.
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