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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsNeed help to catch major ID thieves and get Google to close a gmail account used to steal my money
I've been a victim of serious identity theft that so far includes stealing my social security number, opening multiple brokerage/stock trading accounts in my name, and stealing six figures from my Mom's bank account that I'm a trustee on. Looks like the money is getting returned but every day it's a new crime.
They tried stealing from other accounts but banks other than Wells Fargo were more vigilant and locked down my own accounts before I knew i'd been victimized.
Most scarily my bank account numbers and passwords are for sale on the dark web, one bank told me.
I am not confident that our overworked local sheriff will spend much time investigating. Anybody know how to report this to the feds? There are wire fraud crimes since money was transferred from CA to other states.
I have a lot of info including a phone # in Minnesota they used, where the answering machine sounds like Arabic;
an IP address of the computer they used to set up one of the bogus accounts
an email address with my name that I did NOT set up through gmail; how can I get that cancelled?
I have done obvious steps like putting a freeze on through all the credit agencies, changing passwords on accounts and even a username on the one that had money looted; I am in process of getting all money out of that bank but it's hard, as the account is used for mom's social security deposits and autopayments for her health insurance. It's frozen for now and I moved most of the money elsewhere.
I am also learning how terrible some of these institutions are to deal with. They let scammers take money with absolutely no verification but trying to put freezes on my own accounts took as much as 3 hours at some institutions. Getting a credit report was a nightmare too; I couldn't remember how much our mortgage payment was, the first security question, and one credit agency wouldn't give any other options. 3 hours later I finally got access. And getting the money back? First I was told 2 months, until I threatened to hold a press conference in front of the company's HQ which happens to be in the city I live with -- accuse them of allowing a little old disabled lady's money to be stolen and not caring if she needs that to pay the facility she's now living in. Monsters, all.
CozyMystery
(652 posts)Celerity
(42,630 posts)Liberty Belle
(9,528 posts)Celerity
(42,630 posts)FakeNoose
(32,328 posts)I hope you get help quickly, and I hope the thief gets caught. This is a horrible situation.
Liberty Belle
(9,528 posts)left-of-center2012
(34,195 posts)Any advice to us on how to protect ourselves from it happening to us?
marybourg
(12,540 posts)eventually, so make one, if you havent already.