Identity Theft

OY!! This is what I say when I am annoyed with the world. CR also says that I say Hmmmm... a lot but I digress.

So when I got a call from our Bank this morning I was:
a. asleep
b. CR was asleep
c. annoyed Oy!...because CR was no longer asleep

Well, the bank can call me anytime they want after today. The call was from their fraudulent services department (awsome name don’t you think?). Luckily, I knew that they would call if there were “issues” - I’ve seen the commercial. They asked for my card number, of course I punched it in first and then thought - Oh Crap (actually other words came to mind but this is a family blog!). Then...”We’re sorry, we cannot process your card at this time please call 800----! Then double crap, “I just gave some wacko my card number.” First, I called M. (He’s a time zone away but that doesn’t matter, I’m sure he’ll be able to help.)

M, “Well, call the 800 number honey”.

See, a big help.

Thankfully, it really was my bank. Someone had stolen my identity. Tripple crap! My card number had been stolen sometime in the last two weeks and had been used online for a total of around $150 in charges. The bank credited back about $75 right away and for the rest I just have to fill out a form. In the end not a huge deal.

However, I feel like crap about it. Sorry about the word use but there it is. We are really very careful about our identities and especially our money. We go over our checking account twice a month, pay the bills etc. We are pretty careful with giving out identitfying information, and shred the things that need to be shredded. In general, they are VERY careful about ID theft here in CO and check IDs anytime that you use a credit/debit card. That is why we are about 95% certain that the card number was stolen at a local restaurant about two weeks ago. It is the only time that the card leaves my sight or hand for that matter. Most of the stores here you swipe the card yourself and then they cashier checks your ID. However, a few weeks ago as CR was screaming at a local chain family restaurant where her mom and dad were just trying to have a nice Friday night out...remember those? I paid the check, gave the server the card and then signed the receipt. They must have swiped the card.

So, in the spirit if helping others not do the bone headed things that I do...here are a couple of things that can assist you in protecting your information. Don’t let your card leave your hands. When the waiter gives you the bill - go with them to pay it. Yes, it’s annoying and lets them know that you don’t trust them but give them a good tip and explain why. Tell them about your pal K.

Next, if you share accounts in your house put the online stuff in one person’s name or better yet a separate card or account all together. Then you will know where that card has been! I was able to show that all of the online accounts (you know the ones that I am talking about) were not in my name. That was how they were able to credit my account back half the money. There was no history of those accounts on my card but there was on M's.

Finally, check your bank statements VERY carefully. We do this in our house but the really scary thing about all of this is - I don’t think that we would have caught these charges. Our bank was the one that caught this not us. While we watch our spending very carefully, 90% of the charges were under $5. In fact most were around $1 and none were over $35. Both of us would have assumed that the other had spent a LITTLE money on themselves or the kiddo.

I share this only because I think that it might be of help.

Lots of love,
K