Credit card identity theft dilemma

C50

C50

Senior Member
Location
Ohio, USA
I'm very careful in protecting my personal information but have fallen victim to identity theft. Someone in another state opened a credit card under my name and didn't pay the charges of $253.

I have filed a disput with credit bureaus but am incredibly frustrated with the bank that issued the card, Capital One. Their fraud division will not shut the card down because the info I give them doesn't match the info under the fraudulent account. When I asked how they issued a card under my name with the wrong info they had no explanation, said there's nothing left to do except let the fraud dispute run its course, really ticks me off.

Also I can't notify any govt. agencies because of the shut down.

Other than freezing my credit and having fraud alerts anything else I should do?
 

Get an attorney, @C50... I'm sure many here will have some good advice for you.

But I think that your situation is fairly serious... generally speaking Credit Card scammers
first purchases are fishing type purchases that they use to determine whether or not the
scam is going to work for bigger things down the road.
 
No advice, since I haven’t a clue. I feel for you. Are there any consumer watchdog groups?

CC companies/bank are negligent in approving these cards and then not helping fix the situation. Maybe it‘s time there were lawsuits against banks for their lack of care and attention. The consumer is stressed and the bank doesn’t care.
 

I would notify the three credit bureaus. A few of my friends have had their identity stolen so I finally bit the bullet and bought life lock two years ago. If something like this ever happens to me they will handle everything up to $1 million. They have lawyers on staff.
 
@C50
Just curious, how did you find out about it? If it was through collection efforts, which happened to me once, you can write a letter telling them to "cease and desist" and by law they are bound to honor that. The type of problem I had was caused by a not very good collection agency. Just because somebody in another state shared my name they assumed it was me.
 
Fritz said:
If he freezes his credit how does that work? Is he able to use his own card?
Click to expand...

Sure. "Freezing" one's credit profile simply means that no third party can access your credit reports. When I bought a new car several months ago I had to un-freeze my credit profile with the 3 agencies so that the car dealership could access my credit information. Afterwards, I simply re-froze the access to my credit profile.
 
Someone tried to hack into my account, many years ago, and I immediately rang my bank who froze my account while they investigated. They gave me a secret password to my account details. Unfortunately, they froze my credit card, and I couldn't get any money out, luckily my son came to my rescue and gave me $500.00 to help pay for a couple of bills that were due. In the end all was solved and I can now use my (new) card.
 
DebraMae said:
@C50
Just curious, how did you find out about it? If it was through collection efforts, which happened to me once, you can write a letter telling them to "cease and desist" and by law they are bound to honor that. The type of problem I had was caused by a not very good collection agency. Just because somebody in another state shared my name they assumed it was me.
Click to expand...
I got a notice from my credit card company that my credit rating had dropped, from there I checked with Transunion and found what was going on.
 
I have had my Bank of America visa hacked 3 or 4 times now. I simply called their 1-800 number and they immediately freeze the card and issue another. Takes 4 or 5 days and I'm back in business. All of the fraudulent charges are disputed and then always dismissed.

I always keep enough cash on hand just in case.
I also have my debit card, but have never used it.
I used to have multiple credit cards but got rid if them years ago and just keep one.
 
outlander said:
I have had my Bank of America visa hacked 3 or 4 times now. I simply called their 1-800 number and they immediately freeze the card and issue another. Takes 4 or 5 days and I'm back in business. All of the fraudulent charges are disputed and then always dismissed.

I always keep enough cash on hand just in case.
I also have my debit card, but have never used it.
I used to have multiple credit cards but got rid if them years ago and just keep one.
Click to expand...
The OP's case is much different than yours and much more serious. You had fraudulent activity on your own account, the OP had someone open a CC account with his name.
 
Nathan said:
Sure. "Freezing" one's credit profile simply means that no third party can access your credit reports. When I bought a new car several months ago I had to un-freeze my credit profile with the 3 agencies so that the car dealership could access my credit information. Afterwards, I simply re-froze the access to my credit profile.
Click to expand...
Does that cost money?
 
C50 said:
I got a notice from my credit card company that my credit rating had dropped, from there I checked with Transunion and found what was going on.
Click to expand...
Did you report this fraud to them? It's required after you do so, they contact the other credit reporting agencies.

Also, do file a police report.
 
Gemma said:
Did you report this fraud to them? It's required after you do so, they contact the other credit reporting agencies.

Also, do file a police report.
Click to expand...
Yes I reported the fraud immediatly and it's being investigated. I've also called the fraud department of the bank that issued the card three times now, each time they tell me they can't cancel the card because the identifying info I give them doesn't quite match the card holders info. One agent hinted that the birthdays didn't match up, so I took a picture of my drivers license and sent it to him to prove I am the real C50, still wouldn't cancel the card.
 
C50 said:
Yes I reported the fraud immediatly and it's being investigated. I've also called the fraud department of the bank that issued the card three times now, each time they tell me they can't cancel the card because the identifying info I give them doesn't quite match the card holders info. One agent hinted that the birthdays didn't match up, so I took a picture of my drivers license and sent it to him to prove I am the real C50, still wouldn't cancel the card.
Click to expand...

Bday not matching is proof that Cap 1 was negligent in opening the account.
 
againstthegrain said:
Bday not matching is proof that Cap 1 was negligent in opening the account.
Click to expand...
That's exactly what I told him. I told him this fraud is on them because of their lack of due diligence in issuing the card, but I am the one suffering the consequences. His response was if the account is found to be fraudulant I won't be responsible for the debt. Oh yay for me.
 

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