ID theif!!HELP!!

[All American Kid]

Well it finnally happened to me, someone got by debit card # and evidently alot of other personal information as well. Funny part is that the charges started after I renewed my Norton online (I rarely make online purchases). So canceled my debit, challanged bogus charges, flagged my credit as "fraud alert"and will probally be a good idea to run a credit report here soon (which I will order via phone).

Well anyway, my question is that I ran my microsoft Antispyware and it found nothing. So I work behind a firewall (Norton) should I run anymore spyware programs on my PC or was this thing more than likely intercepted with that one transaction???

[Dagummit]

Dude...it could have been a dumpster diver that took you...do you shred your statements?

But it could have been a slew of things that opened you up...that is why you should use Visa, they have GURANTEED fraud protection up to a butt-load of money...so no green out of your pocket.

[Jimbo]

Spy-Bot Search and Destroy
Ad-Aware
Microsoft Anti-spyware
Grisoft AVG anti virus.

However the problem likely lies with NONE of those, but with hacking, something that they can't prevent. A fact of math/computer programming is that there is basically a way around everything, and no firewall can truly protect you, like MC said.

[erichthewebguy]

Here are a few tips for you. It happened to me six years ago, nd it is still affecting me!

1. Do not store your personal information on your PC.
2. Get a hardware firewall! Netgear, Linksys, etc.
3. *ALWAYS* use a cross-cut shredder
4. Opt out of those "pre-approved" creditcard notices that we all get in the mail. You can do it online: http://www.optoutprescreen.com
5. Get your credit report. You can do it (free) online at the site operated by all three bureaus for just that purpose: https://www.annualcreditreport.com
6. Use a P.O. Box. It's far more secure than your mailbox. At the very least, use a lock on your mailbox and never leave your mail overnight.
7. Use at least two different spyware programs. I recommend Ad-Aware and Spybot.
8. Use and update your anti-virus.

It's unlikely that someone stole your info from Norton. I am inclined to think about dumpster diving, etc. I use a shredder that cuts the paper into little 1/4 inch squares, and there's a fan at the bottom that mixes the pieces up as they are being cut.

Other than that, use common sense. Good luck getting it cleared up!

Oh, one more thing, make sure you file a police report. It will help you a GREAT deal in the long run, when people (mostly the credit bureaus) want some form of documentation!

[Devil_rules_in_extremes]

4. Opt out of those "pre-approved" creditcard notices that we all get in the mail. You can do it online: http://www.optoutprescreen.com

Webguy, your a genius!

Thats exactly what I needed. I get those lousy things all the time. It angers me to no end! Its annoying getting those things every freakin other day. I have to constantly tear them up... Im lazy. So I don't feel like dealin with it!

So thanks!

[erichthewebguy]

DR, I wish everyone would opt out of those stupid things. They are at best an irritant, and more realistically, a great change for ID theft. I remember reading a story about Capital One accepting and processing an application, and issuing a card to a different address than the initial notice was sent to. Only problem was, the app was sent in after having been run through a shredder and was reassembled with Scotch tape! If that's not scary, I don't know what is!

Anyway, after adding my name to the "opt-out" list, I haven't received any of those damned notices. It took about 4 weeks for them to stop completely. I know the site is legit, I have heard about it on Clark Howard's radio show, and numerous other sources. I strongly suggest that everyone go there and add your information.

[Dr. Madd]

I myself am against credit cards in general. It is somehow dishonest to purchase things one does not have the cash in hand for. I pay my Doctors in Cash.

[Dagummit]

...I get those lousy things all the time. It angers me to no end! Its annoying getting those things every freakin other day. I have to constantly tear them up... Im lazy. So I don't feel like dealin with it!

I thought about collecting all my junk mail (those credit card offers, etc) for a one year period and then weigh it (pounds), getting some data on paper consumption, etc.

My PhD is going to be in IT Management, so I can't do my dissertation on that, but I bet that would be a breakthrough for someone to do it on if their PhD is in, say, something related to the environment. You could get several dozen people to do the same thing and compare the data and make a HUGE stink out of how much waste is occurring in paper alone.

Shit, I might just do it to do it...

But anyways, yes Erich, thanks for that opt-out link...I am signing up now. :icon_mrgr

[Dagummit]

I am not trying to steal the thread...but wanted to post this image and link of what I was talking about above...looks like someone beat me to the research project....lol.

http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i/msnbc/Components/Art/BUSINESS/050806/Credit_card_offers.gif

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8827007/

[Devil_rules_in_extremes]

Quote from article DAG provided:


After 10 months, the George Washington University Law School professor had gathered 69 pieces of junk mail -- 20 alone from Capital One.


20 of them from Capital One!

Thats who I have the biggest problem with. Capital One! All the credit card offers I get, I would say 70% of them are from Capital One.

GET OUT OF MY LIFE CAPITAL ONE! YOUR ANNOYING!

"WHATS IN YOUR WALLET?"

NOT A CAPITAL ONE CREDIT CARD, I CAN TELL YOU THAT!

[All American Kid]

Thanks for the input fellows. I got a good cross shredder that I always use but it is hard saying where I got nabbed at. I'm thinking online becuase there where alot of tech site memberships and domains charged to my card. Well anyway, at least I know that I'm doing all I can on my end, again thanks for the input.

[Madcowhunter]

like I said even if you shred your info and everything it may still be snatched in transit. Its the most difficult way to do it but its possible.
Ugh. I got a major lesson in school about ID theft. I think I'd feel safer from burning all my information rather than simply shredding them.

[Dagummit]

AAK - Check with your bank first. A large amount of Banks got hacked into and they don't want to report it to the customers because they are afraid of lawsuits. Most ID theft happens when a bank get hacked.

They are required by law to alert the consumer if their information was conprimised...by law.

[Dagummit]

The law is this :


A bank is not an agency that collects personal information but like Equifax and Morgage companies are agencies that do.

However, banks have zero-liability policies, where they are not responsible for unauthorized or fraudulent charges. That is what the FDIC and FTC do to regulate banks. And that is what came out in Fed '03 when 5.6 million credit cards where hacked from the banks and the banks didn't have to do anything.
You keep thinking that...but if a bank screws up and discloses your credit card info...they are held liable.

[namvet]

Well it finnally happened to me, someone got by debit card # and evidently alot of other personal information as well. Funny part is that the charges started after I renewed my Norton online (I rarely make online purchases). So canceled my debit, challanged bogus charges, flagged my credit as "fraud alert"and will probally be a good idea to run a credit report here soon (which I will order via phone).

Well anyway, my question is that I ran my microsoft Antispyware and it found nothing. So I work behind a firewall (Norton) should I run anymore spyware programs on my PC or was this thing more than likely intercepted with that one transaction???

debit card is for your bank. so they didnt clean your checking account out. right???? so probably not an internet problem. cell phones as you know can now take pics. and heard kids in store lines take a pic of your card when you hand it to the cashier. my guess. also you need more than 1 sypware program. i have 3 and just installed the new windows defender beta software. its a freebie also download the free ad aware se software. good spyware programs are fee based. heres a link:

http://www.download.com/Security-Spyware/2001-2023_4-0.html?tag=dir

[namvet]

Well it finnally happened to me, someone got by debit card # and evidently alot of other personal information as well. Funny part is that the charges started after I renewed my Norton online (I rarely make online purchases). So canceled my debit, challanged bogus charges, flagged my credit as "fraud alert"and will probally be a good idea to run a credit report here soon (which I will order via phone).

Well anyway, my question is that I ran my microsoft Antispyware and it found nothing. So I work behind a firewall (Norton) should I run anymore spyware programs on my PC or was this thing more than likely intercepted with that one transaction???

forgot to add this. How to Avoid Phishing Scams (pronounced fishing) hackers can now make their own wesites. when you login on your card or checking account its an unsecure site. you can be redirected to a fake banking or card site. when you log in they gotcha !!!! also. banks and card never send email. so if you get one from a financial institution DELETE IT. ITS A SCAM. go here:
http://www.gcssystems.ca/phising.htm

[All American Kid]

Thanks for the link namvet! Makes alot of sense that someone on the net would've cleaned me out the first hour. One of the companies said that my card was tied into a bigger series of fruadulant accounts. So hard saying what is involved seems that you all guys are right that it probally happened somewhere other than online.

All in all it'll take me 10 days to get my money back in my account. I must say dealing with someone charging on your credit card is a HOLE lot better than someone putting accounts out under your name (that fiasco was done by the compliments of the ex-wife). But that is yet remain to be seen.

[namvet]

Well it finnally happened to me, someone got by debit card # and evidently alot of other personal information as well. Funny part is that the charges started after I renewed my Norton online (I rarely make online purchases). So canceled my debit, challanged bogus charges, flagged my credit as "fraud alert"and will probally be a good idea to run a credit report here soon (which I will order via phone).

Well anyway, my question is that I ran my microsoft Antispyware and it found nothing. So I work behind a firewall (Norton) should I run anymore spyware programs on my PC or was this thing more than likely intercepted with that one transaction???

fox just posted this:
http://www.foxnews.com/technology/cybersecurity/index.html

[Devil_rules_in_extremes]

Yea, that is a very good link namvet...

[namvet]

Yea, that is a very good link namvet...

here's a message board im a member on. all kinds a good stuff on here:

http://www.pctechbytes.com/forums/