Addressing Identity Theft

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Addressing Identity Theft - 7/2/2008 12:22:41 AM

candystripper

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I wonder if anyone has successfully dealt wiith a 'stolen identity'.

If so, what means did you employ?

I'm talking about credit reports, not DMV records or criminal background reports, though if you've successfully dealt with 'stolen identities' in these venues, I'd be very interested in knowing how.

Are you aware of the eruption in 'net servces, offering 'background checks' on people? Ever had to correct an error made by such a service but not the credit reporting agency itself - in short, dealt with the dissemination of bad information?

To your knowledge, are these 'backround search' companies regulated in any way? By whom?

Thank you.

candystripper

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RE: Addressing Identity Theft - 7/2/2008 7:31:45 AM

sub4hire

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Proud just posted to the board about a month ago she just dealt with ID theft.

So far...people have tried to hack me but nobody has succeeded. I keep a watchful eye on
my credit report.
I just disputed and had removed some property in California that I never owned off of my credit report.

Everything with our name on it that comes into our house goes out shredded.

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RE: Addressing Identity Theft - 7/2/2008 8:17:26 AM

Rule

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Someone pretending to be me recommended something on Amazon. I suspect it was one of my friends recommending work created by said friend. I took it as a weird compliment, mentioned my observation of usage of my name without permission to said friend and further ignored it.

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RE: Addressing Identity Theft - 7/2/2008 9:19:14 AM

LadyLynx

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I can't remember the book, but there is one put out by Disinformation Press, about a former Identity Thief. he talks about his expoilts and also about how to protect yourself

www.disinfo.com you should check it out. (there are alot of other good books by this company.)

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RE: Addressing Identity Theft - 7/2/2008 10:44:12 PM

proudsub

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quote:

Proud just posted to the board about a month ago she just dealt with ID theft.

We got all our money back from the bank. They actually gave us $6000 too much back and sent a letter saying the claim was now closed so it was tempting to keep it, but we called and explained what had happened and it only took the bank an hour to withdraw the $6K from our account. I haven't heard if any one has been arrested but i doubt it since it was an international case.

Here's the old thread on it: identity theft

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RE: Addressing Identity Theft - 7/2/2008 11:24:25 PM

GreedyTop

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*wonders why the OP is interested in ID theft, considering her claims to be so financially troubled*

Personally, I wish someone WOULD steal my ID.. then fix my credit rating...LOL

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RE: Addressing Identity Theft - 7/2/2008 11:37:29 PM

DomAviator

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Absolutely NOTHING about me on any publically available database is accurate. I deliberately, and quite legally, have it chock full of disinformation and made it that way with the help of a PI, a lawyer, and an accountant.

My home is owned by a corporation that is not my actual business, which is owned by another entity which in turn is owned by another entity bouncing state to state until it goes offshore through several extremely uncooperative foreign jurisdictions. My cars are company cars owned by various entities with no real liability exposure. The only vehicle that will come up registered in my name is a late 1980's pickup truck in another state that is worth $400 and I dont even know if it runs as I havent even started it in a year and a half. I have over a dozen bank accounts with balances under $100 scattered in various states, no fewer than 7 addresses in various states - none of which are my actual address. I am thoroughly "judgement proofed" because after 9-11 it is utterly impossible for me to obtain adequate liability coverage for the exposure I face if something ugly happened in my business. (Whether terrorism related or accidental) I mean seriously, what if a person I trained entirely accidentally crashed a $30,000,000 aircraft into say an elementary school resulting in the loss of the building and wrongful death / personal injury suits for 500 dead kids and teachers.... While I refuse to teach arabs or known muslims, I shudder to think what could happen if I had one sneak in and I taught some yahoo to fly a $150,000,000 Boeing 737 which he then uses to slam into a multi-billion dollar facility killing thousands... I carry enough liability insurance to protect against the routine exposures of my biz and to make my clients comfortable, and rely on this judgement proofing to ensure that I wont be destroyed by the sum of all fears scenario. my business may be bankrupted, but my personal assets will be intact and I will reopen in a month...

I deliberately have my personal credit so underutilized that I regularly get offers for secured credit cards.... However, my corporation - which ISNT my actual business with all the liability exposure - was approved for a Vette in minutes, has a very healthy line of credit with more than one bank, and can get a mortgage with no difficulties at all. So, if someone stole my identity are they in for a rude surprise because they wouldnt be able to get a cell phone without being on a spending limit plan. (Which doesnt phase me at all because my phones are company phones LOL)

There is another advantage to this - my ex-wife wasnt married to my corporations she was married to ME. I dont have anything, except of course the corporation but good luck proving I own that and navigating your way through a tangled web of corps, LLC's, LPs, and foreign entities before your investigative and legal money runs out... She should thank her lucky stars I didnt ask for alimony because I probably would have gotten it...

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RE: Addressing Identity Theft - 7/2/2008 11:37:44 PM

Thadius

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***Fast Reply***

I am not sure what regulations the various background check services are obligated to follow. I do know that some of them do not have all of the information required to make a decision and even miss some updated information. I know somebody that was convicted on a felony UUW charge, a month later the law he was convicted under was found unconstitutional by the state supreme court and the charge was espounged (spelling?) from his record. A company he applied to, used one of these companies to do background checks... and he was initially refused the job because the background check only showed the felony conviction... he of course got the job after explaining and showing the paperwork. The point is he shouldn't have had to jump through hoops for something that shouldn't be part of the "public record".

The credit reporting agencies are held to much tighter restraints, and there are enough ways for somebody concerned about their credit to keep tabs on strange stuff popping up on them.

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RE: Addressing Identity Theft - 7/2/2008 11:42:00 PM

GreedyTop

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~FR~

DA.. so........ I need a motorcycle.. a ROad King would be good.. doesnt need all the bells and whistles :)

Thad.. what is UUW? (and it's expunged)

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RE: Addressing Identity Theft - 7/2/2008 11:54:58 PM

Thadius

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quote:

ORIGINAL: GreedyTop

~FR~

DA.. so........ I need a motorcycle.. a ROad King would be good.. doesnt need all the bells and whistles :)

Thad.. what is UUW? (and it's expunged)

Unlawful Use of a Weapon, he was transporting it back from the range, incidently to qualify for his concealed carry permit. He had the legally owned and registered pistol and ammunition stored in the same locked gun case, which was opened by a police officer for inspection at a road block on his way home.

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RE: Addressing Identity Theft - 7/3/2008 12:16:27 AM

GreedyTop

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thanks :)

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RE: Addressing Identity Theft - 7/3/2008 12:21:37 AM

Thadius

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Anytime.

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RE: Addressing Identity Theft - 7/3/2008 4:42:43 PM

candystripper

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Thadius

***Fast Reply***

I am not sure what regulations the various background check services are obligated to follow. I do know that some of them do not have all of the information required to make a decision and even miss some updated information. I know somebody that was convicted on a felony UUW charge, a month later the law he was convicted under was found unconstitutional by the state supreme court and the charge was espounged (spelling?) from his record. A company he applied to, used one of these companies to do background checks... and he was initially refused the job because the background check only showed the felony conviction... he of course got the job after explaining and showing the paperwork. The point is he shouldn't have had to jump through hoops for something that shouldn't be part of the "public record".

The credit reporting agencies are held to much tighter restraints, and there are enough ways for somebody concerned about their credit to keep tabs on strange stuff popping up on them.

Thadus, this is very similar. Someone I know was denied employment because of bad info supplied by a 'background check company' and not by the actual credit bureaus.

Given the proliferation of these companies and the willingness of even Fortune 400 companies to rely on them, I'm bumfuddled as to where to even start.

Maybe I'll email my congressman, LMAO.

candystripper

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