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Questions tagged [identity-theft]

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Scam: Opening Fraudulent Checking Accounts in Someone Else's Name

I've recently been the victim of identity theft, where someone has used my information (including my Social Security, somehow) to open up a handful of fraudulent checking accounts. I have already ...
grfrazee's user avatar
  • 717
1 vote
1 answer
240 views

I own and run a business. Today I received from NYS that I owe money on taxes for Unemployment Insurance that I received. I never filed it

Just saw the letter from NYS saying I owe 1000+ for claiming UI for 2021. I never claimed as I run my own business in NYC and file a Schedule C every year with my taxes. It says I need to pay it by ...
Patoshi パトシ's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
579 views

What information can the merchant see about you when you pay with Paypal?

Just paid a shady looking seller using Paypal thinking that Paypal could protect me. Bought a digital product, received, but rethought the whole thing and now I think I don’t trust the seller to not ...
Egoless's user avatar
  • 13
2 votes
3 answers
329 views

I may have sent a lot of personal information to a scammer via email

Yes, I know. I'm an idiot. As a very young person who doesn't have much experience with anything, I almost fell into debt from a scammer. I didn't, but I gave them a lot of my personal information. I ...
Martha's user avatar
  • 21
12 votes
2 answers
3k views

How bad would a leaked tax return be?

If my entire tax return was somehow leaked, how bad would that be? What potentially harmful information is included other than my name and social security number?
Someone's user avatar
  • 1,399
1 vote
2 answers
2k views

LLC set up at someone else's home - what's the scam?

This didn't happen to me, but this was posted on a local blog I follow and I was curious what the scam was. Someone setup an LLC using my home address. It is a single-family home, and we have owned ...
David K's user avatar
  • 766
2 votes
0 answers
112 views

Identity theft issue: Fidelity showing another person’s profile on my 401k, Fidelity closed the request

My employer provides 401k and I opened a 401k with Fidelity in September. I have been contributing to the 401k since. Recently, I logged into my account and my user profile on Fidelity is showing a ...
Abdullah Rahman's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
97 views

Should I be worried if my EIN application form and EIN are publicly available online?

Some time ago, I sent a Form SS-4 (Application for Employer Identification Number) to the IRS, and later received a reply from the IRS containing the EIN. Recently, I discovered that the Form SS-4 I ...
Flux's user avatar
  • 16.8k
-1 votes
2 answers
315 views

Am i being used for bank fraud [duplicate]

I have been speaking to a girl in Nigeria she promised to visit me but but twice didn't show up said she loved me although never met. Asked for money multiple times asked for bank details and says she ...
Richard Madden's user avatar
49 votes
5 answers
11k views

Why do banks seem to be indifferent about identity theft?

Several years ago, I was in a terrible relationship in which my girlfriend fraudulently opened a credit card in my name. I forget the specifics, but she ended up transferring the full cash advance on ...
Jimmy G.'s user avatar
  • 607
0 votes
2 answers
734 views

Is this a 'trust fund scam'?

A week ago i received an email from an old lady (i actually submitted an ad on a site to find penpals), it seemed okay at first, she said that she had no children or relatives, and her husband was ...
Jacob's user avatar
  • 21
2 votes
3 answers
354 views

Checking to see if someone else is using my EIN

A disgruntled former employee has our business EIN. How can I check to see if any accounts have been opened using our number?
Aviva Patt's user avatar
7 votes
2 answers
1k views

What do i do about a loan check, received in the mail, being cashed by someone other than myself?

I don't know how to resolve this with my name upheld and all monies intact. I recently was approved for a small personal loan. This is the first time I've ever gotten a loan. I received a check for $...
April's user avatar
  • 73
5 votes
1 answer
258 views

Identity Theft: Counterfeit Checks but no Traceable Bank Account

I've been dealing with an ongoing identity theft problem for the past 4 months. Back in March, somebody stole my wallet at a restaurant and it was returned to me by the staff completely empty. All I ...
Karthik Gururangan's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
683 views

Somebody I haven't met wants me to open a bank account without having money, but won't tell me why. Is this a scam? [closed]

I've already bought her gift cards and sent the information online.
user103784's user avatar
21 votes
9 answers
6k views

What can someone do with a stolen wallet for a few seconds?

I was recently in the gym and left my keys, phone and wallet together on top of my jumper. I took my eyes off of them for maybe 5 seconds, which I now know is too long, whilst I went and got some more ...
Jsk's user avatar
  • 1,659
0 votes
1 answer
214 views

how can I see what money is coming in in my name

I think that I someone is pretending to be me an is collecting money that should go to me ( disability insurance claims game winnings etc.) but none of these things are reported due to lack of proof ...
user98463's user avatar
-4 votes
2 answers
169 views

So what if I lose my SSN?

Let's say my social security number is "stolen", but I never need to take out new debt and don't use my credit score, have no intention of collecting social security as part of my retirement plan, and ...
DeepDeadpool's user avatar
-1 votes
1 answer
877 views

I called and verified my identification but the gentleman never gave me a IP PIN so I can't file without it. Can't use the online tool to get it

Can someone help me out here. I called and verified my identification but the gentleman never gave me a IP PIN so I can't file without it. He said my return for 2018 should come in May but I still ...
Anna's user avatar
  • 1
11 votes
4 answers
8k views

How can I protect myself from a scammer who has my information?

I was scammed by someone who had stolen another sugar daddy’s identity and pretended to be him and offered to spoil me. Long story short, they were able to have my name, school ID, phone number, ...
user96897's user avatar
  • 159
3 votes
0 answers
234 views

Life insurance documents sent to wrong e-mail address. What are my options?

Some time ago I applied for life insurance online, and to my utmost incredulity (it never happened since I started using the Internet) apparently I misspelled my own e-mail address. A host of ...
user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
109 views

Credit bureau - Credit freeze vs Fraud Alert

I suspect my passport information along with other personal information was leaked on a website. I have already setup Credit Freeze, would Fraud Alert be also necessary? What are the benefits and ...
Lara1's user avatar
  • 23
2 votes
1 answer
103 views

Domestic US wire - do they get my account details

If I send a domestic US wire from my bank to another US bank, does the person on the other end get my account number details? I understand that the receiving bank may get my account number details. ...
Help's user avatar
  • 31
0 votes
2 answers
95 views

paperwork application to open new financial accounts - identity theft security risk?

I opened a bank account and a brokerage account using traditional paperwork forms I was provided with at the financial institution where I opened these accounts. That got me a bit worried as the ...
Marcus Junius Brutus's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
374 views

What do I do if someone forges my check

Someone recently forged my signature and used that to withdraw money from my account. I already called the bank (Chase) and they put a restriction on that account and open a new account for me. They ...
Help's user avatar
  • 31
23 votes
4 answers
7k views

Do businesses save their customers' credit card information until the payment is finalized?

Paying by credit card is sometimes a multi-step process. In some of those cases, only the initial authorization is made at the point of sale; the finalized transactions are usually entered as a batch ...
tparker's user avatar
  • 787
7 votes
2 answers
394 views

Equifax class action settlement—opt-in or opt-out?

I'm trying to figure out whether it's better to include or exclude oneself from the Equifax class action settlement. I've been torn on the issue, for reasons I'll explain below. Note to readers: ...
user541686's user avatar
  • 3,359
2 votes
1 answer
181 views

Equifax data breach and correct credit monitoring service for $125

for the Equifax Data Breach , there is $125 being paid for people affected , previously one only needed to choose and the cash portion or the credit monitoring by Equifax. As most of the people has ...
Raj's user avatar
  • 3,462
1 vote
1 answer
3k views

I accidentally gave out my name, home address, email address, phone number, and my DOB [duplicate]

Will anything go wrong??? I'm so scared... I can't even sleep anymore.. It was a phone call telling me about some kind of benefit I gave out my name, address, phone number, DOB, and email address and ...
Young's user avatar
  • 11
6 votes
1 answer
771 views

Strange withdrawal from checking account

I got a notice that there was an ACH withdrawal yesterday from my checking account of $225.38 by OPENSKY PHONE PMT. I'd never heard of OpenSky before and I'm not sure what a "phone pmt" is. I called ...
amos's user avatar
  • 163
34 votes
5 answers
17k views

My credit card was unexpectedly charged 1$, the merchant wants my SSN and personal data to tell me why, do I risk identity theft?

I received a phone message from my credit union's fraud detection department about a transaction for $1 that raised a flag. I called them back and was given the information recorded with the ...
aparente001's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
116 views

Are there negative consequences to having multiple credit monitoring services?

I already have one credit monitoring service that I am not paying for due to a security breach somewhere many years ago. I am not 100% sure but I think it expires/ends in a few years. My data was ...
IMTheNachoMan's user avatar
0 votes
3 answers
170 views

Why are free credit reports available only once per year?

Consumers have access to a free annual credit report from each of Equifax, Transunion, and Experian thanks to the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act passed in 2003. However, this may be too ...
M. Thompson's user avatar
37 votes
20 answers
23k views

How to safely destroy (a large quantity of) valid checks?

A while ago I had my bank issue me new checks due to a change of name (I got married). However I still have many hundreds of checks with the out of date info (they're an online bank and issue about ...
Vality's user avatar
  • 1,886
7 votes
2 answers
250 views

How to monitor for identity theft of minor child

It's important to monitor your own credit for signs of identity theft and for errors, because recovery can be time consuming and expensive. What steps should parents take to monitor their minor ...
lizziv's user avatar
  • 1,746
4 votes
1 answer
305 views

Vehicle has been broken into. Missing registration, insurance cards

My parents are currently out of town and they have left their vehicle parked on my block. We just discovered that the vehicle has been broken into. Aside from a few personal items, thieves have also ...
dimitry_n's user avatar
  • 143
8 votes
2 answers
310 views

Credit Freeze for Minor Child

I was told that identity theft of a minor's credit is a very sought after goal for thieves. Is it true that credit agencies will offer lines of credit to individuals who are not yet 18? Is there any ...
jxramos's user avatar
  • 1,311
19 votes
4 answers
7k views

If I have given my bank details to someone by email what should I do now? [duplicate]

I have given someone my bank account details including my home address and phone number by email, supposedly so that money can be transferred into my account. I am now quite sure this is a scam. ...
Julianne bhana's user avatar
2 votes
3 answers
747 views

Checks stolen and rewritten, how?

This situation happened with my grandmother a few days ago. Even though older people are forgetful I do not believe my grandmother has misremembered this situation or confused herself. She wrote a $...
theblindprophet's user avatar
5 votes
3 answers
1k views

Stolen Check honored by bank (maybe after being cancelled). What should I do?

My daughter's checkbook was stolen last Saturday, she reported it to the bank Monday morning 10am and told them to cancel all the checks. She told the police earlier. We're in the USA. Her account ...
Dark Matter 's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
147 views

Free Credit Report -- Checking for identity theft

I'm about to request my free annual credit report. I've never requested one before, but I noticed something suspicious with my FICO score lately in my Discover Card app and want to look into my credit ...
DrZoo's user avatar
  • 113
1 vote
0 answers
83 views

Photocopies of vital records

How concerned should I be about private companies maintaining photocopies of vital records like birth certificates and social security cards? While he is not applying for subsidized housing, my son ...
Michael J.'s user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
304 views

Credit card cloned and money taken (UK)

My mum recently learned she had been charged for a use of her card to pay £28 at a pub in Nottinghamshire. Since she has never been to Nottinghamshire, it must have been her card details were stolen. ...
John Smith 's user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
4k views

Please help: Is it safe to give this personal and banking information to someone? [closed]

Is it safe to give this information to someone? Name of Account Holder: Name of Bank: Bank Account Number: Address of the Bank Branch: Bank Swift Code: Phone Number of ...
Jade Dayto's user avatar
30 votes
7 answers
19k views

Private Bank requesting user name and password to verify identity before sending money to acct

I have been asked to provide my user name and password, so my fiance' can have his bank, Macoto, verify my identity, before they will send the funds. Does this sound right? I figure if he gives the ok,...
Susan's user avatar
  • 325
1 vote
0 answers
252 views

Gave my full name, age, office address and mobile number to a probable scammer [duplicate]

What's the worst that can happen if I have given my name, office address, age and mobile number to a person who was most probably a scammer? I'm still not sure, it was scam, because emails were very ...
M. Raza's user avatar
  • 11
0 votes
1 answer
259 views

What's the likelihood of identity theft? Why doesn't it happen more often?

The recent Equifax breach causes me to think about how easy identity theft seems to be. A lot of my information is already (semi-)public: Name Date of birth (friends know, also available on Facebook ...
Heisenberg's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
374 views

How can I check if any accounts were recently opened in my name

Someone just tried to open a Paypal credit account in my name. I was able to get the account closed and the charges revoked, but now I need to make sure there is nothing else out there. How can I ...
David says Reinstate Monica's user avatar
7 votes
2 answers
10k views

Credit freeze in UK

I've read a lot that in US people can protect themselves from identity theft by applying credit freeze on their credit history, is there similar option in UK?
Maxim Galushka's user avatar
13 votes
1 answer
2k views

What happens if an identity thief files a fraudulent return for you, but you owe taxes?

For taxes this year I'm going to owe the IRS, not get a refund, and I won't have any W-2 (although my wife will). So I'm curious what would happen if someone used this Equifax breach to file my tax ...
Matt Chambers's user avatar