Question: Possible Identity Theft

[TheOtherMe]

About 6 weeks ago, I got a bunch of emails saying I had applied to beauty school. Then came a packet in the mail with all the paperwork to apply. I called them to see how they got my name as this was for high school juniors! I was told by the admissions counselor that somebody had completed a profile at a website and gave me their telephone number so I wouldn't be bombarded. She told me the information they had given on the application. Name, address and phone number were correct. Everything else was made up.

Yesterday, I received a flurry of emails about auto insurance and one about art college. You guessed it. Today, I have been inundated with phone calls from art colleges and auto insurance companies. I drive a Chevy Avalanche and I was born on January 30, 1979--not even close. I asked if the first auto insurance company had an SSN. She read me the last four digits and they were not mine? Last insurance call had looked me up in the stage database and didn't think I drove a Chevy Avalanche. He told me the correct car that I drive.

I have no idea of who is getting their kicks doing this or how to stop it?

Any advice? Thanks in advance.

[Deleted]

Are the emails actually addressed to you by name or just showing up in your email? It could be some company sold a list that had your email address on it. It sounds like you are getting spammed not hacked.

[taz157]

Oct 30, 2012 6:03:23 GMT -5 @daphne87 said:

I would suggest pulling your credit reports immediately and maybe even freezing your credit just to be on the safe side.

Other than that, I'm not really sure. But there are amazingly knowledgeable people here who will have better and more specific advice!

Good luck.

Good luck.

[Abby Normal]

I went through this about two years ago. I started getting insurance quotes in my 8 year old name. I freaked out and called on of the agents who had sent it. Poor guy because I was in serious mama bear mode. He stated that it was an online quote and sent me the information that was provided.

The email address listed was close to the last name of one of our neighbors. Turns out their 16 year old son was trying to get and idea of rates, but didn't want to give out his own information because he didn't want his parents to see it. He didn't realize they would mail something.

[TheOtherMe]

Today I received phone calls from a nursing school and a school for paramedics.

The emails do have my first and last name in them and some of the schools have sent brochures to my home address. I've not even opened them.

On the advice of a friend, I will be calling our local police department tomorrow. This is bordering on harassment because I am being inundated with telephone calls. I saved the last two days of incoming calls from the schools and insurance companies. This is getting so old.

I realize it isn't an emergency, but I hope to make an appointment to take my laptop in to the station. I live in a small town and we only have 2 police officers.

[Opti]

Could someone you know be harassing or scamming you? I agree it doesn't sound like identity theft because the emails, phone calls, and mail are coming to you.

Many years ago pre-internet people use to do gags like send away for free sample of feminine hygiene products or diapers and have it sent to a male friends address as a gag.

It is a good idea to check you credit report, but if it doesn't stop soon - change your phone number and perhaps make it unlisted. If not, make sure it is not on the internet anywhere. Also anywhere on the internet make your email address human readable not machine readable, i.e. jane.doe at gmail dot com.

[TheOtherMe]

Somebody asked me if I had p*ssed anybody off recently. Not that I know of--except for the church treasurer where I work. He is the only person I know who knows all of these things about me. He is a CPA and I would hope he wouldn't act like this.

My sister asked if any of the kids at the church know my phone number. It did used to be in the church newsletter, but hasn't for several months. However, my address is not in the church directory because I am an employee, not a church member.

I have never emailed any of my neighbors and I don't know of anything that has happened to tick them off. One mows my lawn and he is paid in full.

This is my cell phone number and I know of nowhere on the internet that it's located.

Hmmm. I just thought of something. I had a so-called Paul McCartney fan come on to me some months ago on FB. Some of the things didn't make sense. I never gave him my address of phone number but he knows people who have both. The one thing he told me that made me very suspicious of him was that he told me his ex-wife had told him that the two of us should get together. I am friends with her, so I ignored him until I could talk to her on the phone. They had never, ever talked about me and she said he was crazy. During their short-lived marriage, he worked and kept her locked in a bedroom with bathroom. He wouldn't allow her any contact with her sons who were in another state. She told me that even though I had blocked him on FB he had told her you can always find people. Now I have a name to suggest to the police when I go there.

Thanks for making me think. I may have hit on something. He is crazy. I am not going to unblock him on FB, but I only remember his first name. I will have to contact her for his last name. She said he spent hours on the computer and thought he would feel like I jilted him. Crazy people's brains don't work like sane people's brains.

[Bluerobin]

I'd start signing him up for things!

[TheOtherMe]

I was too slow to think of that!

I have left a message at our one police officer non-emergency number. I have no idea of when they will call me.