Credit Fraud... sort of (???)

[Carrie12345]

I monitor our credit somewhat obsessively because we’ve worked very hard to improve it and would like to move at some point.  Also because we have insane relatives.

Last year, maybe summertime, we wound up finding an issue with a no-contact relative’s address showing up on a credit card account and our mortgage bank info. There were no new accounts or fraudulent activity on either account, just the address.  It took forever to get it fixed and neither company was “able” to tell us how that happened.

I just happened to check another credit monitoring service that I don’t sign into as often as others.  It flagged a social security number use in November... from the same address.

None of our accounts have suspicious activity. No new accounts. No new inquiries. Nothing that doesn’t belong to us.  I can account for every single penny of every single charge.  So what in the heck is being done with this social security number???  And does anyone know how I can make it stop if there are no “damages” so to speak?  I know what I could do if she opened an account or charged something, but that is not the case.

[Scarlett]

21 minutes ago, Carrie12345 said:

I monitor our credit somewhat obsessively because we’ve worked very hard to improve it and would like to move at some point.  Also because we have insane relatives.

Last year, maybe summertime, we wound up finding an issue with a no-contact relative’s address showing up on a credit card account and our mortgage bank info. There were no new accounts or fraudulent activity on either account, just the address.  It took forever to get it fixed and neither company was “able” to tell us how that happened.

I just happened to check another credit monitoring service that I don’t sign into as often as others.  It flagged a social security number use in November... from the same address.

None of our accounts have suspicious activity. No new accounts. No new inquiries. Nothing that doesn’t belong to us.  I can account for every single penny of every single charge.  So what in the heck is being done with this social security number???  And does anyone know how I can make it stop if there are no “damages” so to speak?  I know what I could do if she opened an account or charged something, but that is not the case.

Maybe she was just testing to see what she could get away with. 

[Lanny]

First I don't think it is a good idea to check Credit Bureau reports more often than once a month, My impression is that may be a Negative thing on a Credit Report,

The thing about the use of a Social Security Number (SSN) if it is that of you or your DH, is something that I suggest you should pursue, immediately or sooner.

We live in South America (Colombia) and a few months ago my wife had a doctors appointment and it was one of those rare days we were eating Lunch in a restaurant in the mall. She got an SMS alert from the bank that issued her credit card.  Not much we could do until we got home later that afternoon. Neither DD or I had made a purchase with my wife's credit card. It was a huge mystery, until my wife got on the web site of the bank and began chatting with their Fraud Department. Someone had made a purchase for one cent (USD $0.01) from Amazon (I wonder what one can buy for one cent).  

The bank Fraud Dept. called our home "Landline" (actually VoIP ) phone number, to speak with my wife, in addition to the Online Chat session she had begun with them. I believe it is easier to give facts and details in a Chat session that over the phone, to reduce misunderstandings.

That one cent transaction was a TEST, to see if my wife had available credit on her credit card.

Faster than they could say "we have cancelled your credit card and will send you a new card" the bank cancelled her credit card. That was I believe late on a Monday afternoon. The next Wednesday, 2 days later, a bank messenger delivered a new credit card to my wife.

We are certain that had my wife not received the SMS Alert about that transaction for one cent, she would have had her credit card taken over by a criminal group.

The experience my wife had is different than yours, but anything involving a Social Security Number (SSN ) is extremely serious. All that a criminal organization needs is your name, your SSN, your city of birth, your D.O.B. and you are on the way to having your identity stolen. 

[Carrie12345]

5 minutes ago, Scarlett said:

Maybe she was just testing to see what she could get away with. 

That’s what I figured the first time.
This second time was more than 3 months ago, and there’s no activity.  So what the heck???

[Scarlett]

45 minutes ago, Carrie12345 said:

I monitor our credit somewhat obsessively because we’ve worked very hard to improve it and would like to move at some point.  Also because we have insane relatives.

Last year, maybe summertime, we wound up finding an issue with a no-contact relative’s address showing up on a credit card account and our mortgage bank info. There were no new accounts or fraudulent activity on either account, just the address.  It took forever to get it fixed and neither company was “able” to tell us how that happened.

I just happened to check another credit monitoring service that I don’t sign into as often as others.  It flagged a social security number use in November... from the same address.

None of our accounts have suspicious activity. No new accounts. No new inquiries. Nothing that doesn’t belong to us.  I can account for every single penny of every single charge.  So what in the heck is being done with this social security number???  And does anyone know how I can make it stop if there are no “damages” so to speak?  I know what I could do if she opened an account or charged something, but that is not the case.

I guess I don't know what that means....to flag social security number use....,

[Carrie12345]

Just now, Scarlett said:

I guess I don't know what that means....to flag social security number use....,

I don’t entirely know, either, other than that the alert gives her home address.

Going through all account profiles and it’s BACK on our mortgage account again as our home address. WTF???

[ktgrok]

I wonder if rather than opening a new account she's trying to add herself to your accounts, to boost her own credit or??

 So I'd check that you haven't had any new "authorized users" or anything on your accounts. 

[Carrie12345]

1hr 47m and 6 people spoken to. Zero explanation.  “Automatic system update” that tells us nothing.  Refusal to provide written documentation. 6th and final person wished us well when we said we’ll be moving all of our accounts.

Stay far, far away from Wells Fargo. (Which I already knew, but was too lazy to pull out earlier.)

[Scarlett]

11 minutes ago, Carrie12345 said:

1hr 47m and 6 people spoken to. Zero explanation.  “Automatic system update” that tells us nothing.  Refusal to provide written documentation. 6th and final person wished us well when we said we’ll be moving all of our accounts.

Stay far, far away from Wells Fargo. (Which I already knew, but was too lazy to pull out earlier.)

Wow that is crazy!!

[Carrie12345]

7 minutes ago, Scarlett said:

Wow that is crazy!!

It really is. I’m livid and my whole body hurts. I’m trying to shop for a new mortgage, but I really need to cool off first.

[TheReader]

34 minutes ago, Carrie12345 said:

1hr 47m and 6 people spoken to. Zero explanation.  “Automatic system update” that tells us nothing.  Refusal to provide written documentation. 6th and final person wished us well when we said we’ll be moving all of our accounts.

Stay far, far away from Wells Fargo. (Which I already knew, but was too lazy to pull out earlier.)

Oh, yikes. 

 

[Scarlett]

On 2/17/2020 at 9:42 AM, Carrie12345 said:

It really is. I’m livid and my whole body hurts. I’m trying to shop for a new mortgage, but I really need to cool off first.

Did you find a mortgage? We just got one with Arvest and I am being told they don’t sell their mortgages.  I would look for one that will keep it in house.  
 

Also, is it possible the relative is just messing with you?  
 

One time my crazy BIL signed me up for a bunch of stupid magazines.....

[Carrie12345]

3 minutes ago, Scarlett said:

Did you find a mortgage? We just got one with Arvest and I am being told they don’t sell their mortgages.  I would look for one that will keep it in house.  
 

Also, is it possible the relative is just messing with you?  
 

One time my crazy BIL signed me up for a bunch of stupid magazines.....

I did a lot of looking around, but there’s only so far one can get without opening themselves up to being harassed by 20 people from the same brokerage, lol. From what I’ve found, I think we’re going to make an appointment at our regular bank. They actually listed options other than taking money out or extending terms, which seem to be the big pushes from everyone else. Plus, they have an A+ BBB rating, compared to WF’s F, lol.

What I’m thinking is that she used dh’s credit rating to get utilities.  I’m hoping that’s not true, because there’s a very real chance she won’t pay them. Still working on pulling dh’s real report so we can look for “soft” checks. All of our monitoring only lists “hard” checks. 

[Scarlett]

19 minutes ago, Carrie12345 said:

I did a lot of looking around, but there’s only so far one can get without opening themselves up to being harassed by 20 people from the same brokerage, lol. From what I’ve found, I think we’re going to make an appointment at our regular bank. They actually listed options other than taking money out or extending terms, which seem to be the big pushes from everyone else. Plus, they have an A+ BBB rating, compared to WF’s F, lol.

What I’m thinking is that she used dh’s credit rating to get utilities.  I’m hoping that’s not true, because there’s a very real chance she won’t pay them. Still working on pulling dh’s real report so we can look for “soft” checks. All of our monitoring only lists “hard” checks. 

Oh I see.  Well can you call the utilities in her town and ask if your dhs ss number was used?

ss far as a mortgage, what I have found is you can. It trust the banks tooffer what is best for you.  You have to KNOW already and tell them what you want.  And to be persuaded by their sales pitch.