Bazaar Identity Fraud Story (Beware)

[MrFrosty]

This is a warning to anyone giving out personal information when buying or renting anything. I was talking to a freind of mine last night who moved to Tampa, FL a little over a year ago with his wife and kids became the target of fraud. I'll explain.

Yesterday morning his wife was arrested from their apartment on charges of stealing a U-Haul back in January. The U-Haul had her name linked to it and was driven from Ft. Lauderdale to Boston and then abandoned. Previous to that they rented a U-Haul from Massachusetts to Tampa when they moved a little over a year ago and haven't been back since. Ft. Lauderdale is on the other side of the state by the way. However this was pulled-off, I'm convinced it originated from within the U-Haul company from someone who had access to her info in a database. They selected her name at random as an opportunity to transport whatever they could hide in a stolen truck while covering their own tracks.

I was on the phone with him last night and he and his whole family are shaken up over it. He bailed her out yesterday and is looking at Lawyers, Private Investigators and anyone else that can get it resolved and be re-imbursed. Meanwhile, she can't return to work. Two days before that, they just closed escrow on a house.

I was wondering if anyone else has ever heard of something like this and how it got resolved. How can it be prevented? I won't even think of giving my soc sec # out. I'm leary about purchasing online with my CC# too. This kind of thing can happen to anyone.

[Tard]

The story is told like an urban legend.

My bank is very good at covering my **** when unexpected charges arise.

[Ravensong]

OK, here's what I know.
In 98 I someone tried to use my id for dental insurance ( weird, huh?) By law, you can make ALL insurance companies assign you a number, and DON"T give your ssn. Medical records usually assign you a mrn (medical record number) anyway, so don't give your ssn. You can also have everything be on passwords, so you don't use your ssn. There are federal laws to allow this.
When renting or buying anything, don't use your real address, and if they have to have it, use a po. If they are insistant, tell them you ARE a victem of identity theft, and there are federal laws to protect you.
Now, what you have to do is check your credit rating, keep an eye on it, lots of times people are a victom and don't even know it. When this happens, you MUST file a police report. Thay cannot help you, but it will save your behind when/if you have to go to court (and usually you will). A judge can rule against you if you don't have said police report.
Next, be VERY prepared to be on the phone EVERY DAY for at least a year and a half. It takes diligence and persistance to over come identity theft. That's what the criminals know, and they literally bank on it.
Hope this helps.

[MrFrosty]

So your bank can cover your *** from bogus charges and also protect your identity from all possible uses of your name to someone elses advantage? Where do I sign up for an account?

<The story is told like an urban legend.
<My bank is very good at covering my **** when <unexpected charges arise.

[gus danger]

That is scary stuff Mr. Frosty,
Thanks for the heads up!
Gus

[Ravensong]

Just about every bank. Just make sure you protect yourself by paswords.
Also, to give yourself extra protection, a credit union is a better place.

[MrFrosty]

Actually I was responding to Reved. He said

"The story is told like an urban legend.
My bank is very good at covering my **** when unexpected charges arise".

This situation wasn't related to her bank. Someone posed with her identity when renting a moving truck and then stole it. May have just put a cash deposit down on it for all I know. Still the company is negligent if they rent out trucks without scanning for photo id or taking a thumb print.

[Ravensong]

It's actually not a law to see id when renting a truck. That's why I said not to give your correct address, that's why P.O's are better if it's a must have. The idea of fingerprinting doesn't stop identity theft, by the time they track it all down, the person is on to a new identity. You have to relise the criminals know the system.
The company may not be ruled at fault because you don't have to show id, and also, who's to say the thief didn't have id made. Right now as we speak illegals buy current ssn's. These are just things to be aware of.