Ever been a victim of Identity Theft?

[lurker]

I haven't, well at least not yet.

It was a very windy day today. The garbageman today broke one of my trashbags as he was trying to put it in the dumpster, so the garbage fell out on the street. So Windy Day + scattered paper = mess. But the damn idiot didn't bother to pick it up or even knock on my door to tell me about it! Now fast forward to 2 hours later: my neighbor knocks on my door and wakes me from my nap to tell me that ALL MY GARBAGE SCATTERED ACROSS THE STREET as well as his lawn (about the length of 3 houses to the right of mine). So I spend 30 minutes picking up all the trash I could, ALONE. I think I got the majority of it.

Some of the trash included information like my first and last name, as well as my address and phone number. Will identity thieves be able to access my money with that information, assuming they got a hold of it? I did get the majority of my trash, so I think the chances of me becoming a victim are slim. Still, I'm pretty scared right now. I'll go buy a shredder... Can someone steal your identity with just your first name, last name, address and phone number?

 

[Kurn]

(not going to answer: Knock-on-wood theory)

 

[lurker]

(not going to answer: Knock-on-wood theory)

Then why did you reply? I'd like to know it.

 

[Hair Hunter]

it is unlikely that you would be a victim from that basic information. Normally they need birthdate, social security number, credit card numbers, account information or other detailed information. I don't think you have too much to worry about, but a shredder is a good idea for anyone.
Mike

 

[JayHew]

^^ is good advice to get a shredder and anything with your name on it goes through it before it goes in the trash. Here, it goes in the burn barrel and is burned. It is not a pleasant thing to have to go through and I know someone who did and here 5 years later is still having scattered problems, but it took horrendous effort on their part to get it taken care of.

 

[star-warrior]

I never throw stuff in the garbage with my name, address, or other details on. It is better to cut or tear them out as you get them, and burn the bits.

 

[cocktales]

Lurker and others,

I recommend you go to one of the stores that sell paper shredders and buy one!

They are NOT that expensive and they will save you the worry that you are going through right now........ALLS you have to do is shred ALL things with your name and addy on it and its done....

**I just looked at an ad last Friday and Office Depot is selling them for like $19.99 and they go up from there in price according to how many sheets of paper they shred at one time!!

I do recommend you get the cross-shredder, the one that totally mangels up the paper and NOT just shred it in a straight slip that can be pieced back to-gether!

Seriously, explore getting that shredder so you don't lose sleep over someone stealing your ID!

 

[MadeUpName27]

Be Afraid. Be Very Afraid...

While on vacation in Florida - January 95 - my wallet was stolen.
I called the banks, cancelled my credit cards, went home, replaced my DL and SS card.
End of story, right?

Three months later, I started receiving mail from lawyers in Florida - offering to represent me in my FELONY CASE.

It turned out that the rocket scientists at Florida DMV had issued 7 different people ID's with my name and SS# - in one office, in one day.

One of the 7 was arrested and booked - using my name - and charged with Felony Assault and Battery, Drug Possession With Intent To Distribute, Un-Registered Handgun Possession and other related offences.

Fortunately, he was still being held in the Broward County Jail when I contacted the Police.
They re-booked him and convicted him - in his real name.

11 years later, this nightmare still appears when somebody runs a background check on me.
Why?
My name is still listed in the Criminal Justice System computers as his "alias"...

 

[tccia1]

*IF* the only information was name/address/telephone number then its nothing someone couldnt get out of a phone book... however if somthing might have had a social security number / dob etc on top of everything else then maybe a problem

 

[Nonimus]

I might been killed Because in my room, on my desk, there was a huge knife lefted by theft

OMG - Hope you're ok - Did they take your dictionary too?

 

[james1200]

honestly, the question should be "were you a victim of identity theft by nonimus?"

 

[Nonimus]

I did once get mistaken for James1200 - dragged outta my car, beaten half to death by 8 cops sprayed with mace n'shit. Fortunately, some one filmed the entire episode...

 

[james1200]

funny cause i was once mistaken for noni...the repo man came and took my car, the cops harrassed me and threw my burberry cap to the ground and stomped on it and i stole the camera of the guy who taped the whole episode and beat him to death wit it.

 

[Nonimus]

Its that whole metathetic parallel world paradigm all over again

 

[wit_afrika]

No, not yet at least. But then again who'd want to be a SA white male
- sorry, sick little joke!

 

[tx_doc]

I was - it was my older drug addict brother. I had him arrested.