Identity Theft of Sorts

[Brookenstein]

Ok.... so I don't look that closely at my credit card statements.  This month I discovered 3 seperate charges to AOL for the same amount.  We don't have AOL.  Turns out someone has been using my card since January.

Last week I got a letter to Oliver Preston at my addy from AOL talking about new features.  Today we got several letters that show screen names and charges, but no explanation of the actual letter or the reason it was sent.

My question is, is there any way I can try and figure out who this person is based on the 10 or so IDs I have that they used?

I don't know if it is coincidence or not, but I don't like that one of my kids' name was used in the faux account or that they have my addy.  I did go through all my statements since Jan and there have been no other unrecognizable charges.  I also got copies of all of my credit reports and everything looks good on there too.

Any idea how to find this guy?

[wmccall]

I recommend you give up before it frustrates you.  AOL will bend over backwards for the FBI, but won't do squat for the end user. (I know, I use to work for them) Even the credit card companies will just reimburse you and not investigate.   The hard part with those pinheads at AOL is to get them to stop billing you, even if you never signed up.

If I had a worst enemy, I can't think of anything worse to do to them than sign them up for AOHell

Actually, if you want to be mean to someone, go to AOL.com and ask for a CD to be mailed.  You can put in the address of someone you hate, and give them a name that will insult them. The entire process from requesting a CD to its mailing is totally automated.

You can put something like  Child Porn R'us  in the name and it will get delivered addressed that way . Even better AOL will sell the name and address to a few other companies.

[Gomboman]

Good luck Brooke. At least they weren't charging big screen TV's to your account. Seems pretty stupid for a criminal not to max out your account.

wmccall, I was thinking of you when I read this.

http://www.fool.com/Features/1997/sp970425a.htm

[Brewman]

 Are you sure that it's not a billing error of some type at your credit card and/or AOL?  

Seems kinda funny that someone with a stolen credit card wouldn't run out and max it up before it gets cancelled.  

Have you checked your computers to be sure that you don't have AOL?  Any possibility that maybe one of your kids installed one of their junk mail discs, and borrowed your credit card without you knowing about it?
I don't know the ages of your children, so maybe they are too young to do this.

It has happened more than once to a couple people I know at work.  

Like I said, it's probably a long shot.

[Brookenstein]

Brewman,

The kids are too young (6 and 2).  When I first discovered the charge I called the 800 # on the credit card statement.  I figured we must have bought something online and we were accidently charged 3 times.  AOL fraud department is the one who told us that someone else signed up.  They couldn't tell me the name, but asked who was authorized to use the card (just me and husband) and she said, nope this is fraud.  I expected to find other charges on my cc when I went back and looked at it carefully and was shocked that I didn't.  My son's name isn't that common (Preston) so I find it odd that his name was used even as a last name in opening the accounts.

We have not had AOL in more than 10 years, so I know it wasn't a mistake with us.  

I'm still waiting for Disocvers fraud department to call me.  One weird thing that did happen... was the week before I found this out, I dropped my card at soccer registration.  Someone there called Discover and told them they found my card.  That card was instantly closed and Discover called me to let me know.  I asked if that canceled my husbands card too.  She said yes, and that 2 charges had been declined that day 1) Sam's Club (I knew that would be gas) and 2) an online yahoo briefcase purchase.  I kept asking J what he had bought and he played stupid... well actually he never bought anything.  So... I want to ask the fraud dept. if that could have been related to these other charges.

Other than that everything has been normal.

[drewstar]

I was thinking along the lines of Brewman, the children "borrowed" your cc  for his personal internet use.  However, the ages  (6 and 2) suggest it wasn't them.  

It is very strange that the screen names are the same as your kids?  Someone knows thier name and your CC #?  This suggest to me  either a familly/friend or ID theft/


I'd run a credit check on your kids SS #.  To see if someone has taken out credit under thier name.  

I'd see if AOL can help you.

at least google the screen names to see where they were visiting.   (the sites may help you "guess" who it might be if it's a familly or friend, for instance if they were members of the naked gun club and shiner bock forum, I'd be having a talk with Term.

I would be concerned.  

[Brookenstein]

There were about 10 names used, just one included part of one of the kids' names.

We have no friends or family within 1000 miles (well one friend, but I trust her with my life).  We have never had a babysitter or a worker in the house unsupervised.

The kids SS#'s are locked in a safe in my bedroom and even I don't know their #'s.

[drewstar]

There were about 10 names used, just one included part of one of the kids' names.

We have no friends or family within 1000 miles (well one friend, but I trust her with my life).  We have never had a babysitter or a worker in the house unsupervised.

The kids SS#'s are locked in a safe in my bedroom and even I don't know their #'s.

FWIW, the kids SS #s are obtainable  from city hall and I also belive the hospital.    They don't need to get access to your safe to get the #s.

Actually, if you give me $35 and thier names, I'll tell you in a few minutes what thier SS is.

/it's that easy.


I don't want to panic you, absolutey not. but taking young childrens ID has been reported as the prefered method of ID theft.  (because parents don't check  thier kids credit report).

ID theft is not just for Credit Card scams and theft. Many (ahem) "undocumented workers" use this practice to get employement.