What a pain in the patootie!
2 weeks ago we had a credit card number stolen. Whatever other bad things are being said about Bank of America, they react very promptly to any unusual activity on a credit account, so we were notified quickly, account was cancelled, and new cards & number issued. But about the same time, Norm began receiving a ton of insurance offers via e-mail, and even got a phone call AT WORK, which is really strange. What seems to have happened is that the identity thief, for reasons which escape me, went to a couple of different web sites and signed up in Norm's name for free quotes. (Which begs the question, how did he or she figure out the correct e-mail address, and his work phone number? And what other information is floating around out there? ) Some of the information given was amusingly incorrect--he doesn't drive a Jaguar, nor is he 26 years old! But still--why? Malice? Somebody's idea of a joke?
We discussed where the credit card was used in the few days before we were notified of the "irregular activity." We had been out to dinner on Friday, and Norm had used the card at Staples Saturday. Supposedly, waiters are a prime source for stolen credit card numbers. Where we went was a very small local, family run cafe, however. But I'm starting to wonder now about Staples. I think he has some sort of preferred customer card with them, and what information is collected with that?
I placed a fraud alert on our credit report, which is easy enough to do, and will file a complaint with the FTC and local police as the FTC site recommends. I might contact the Internet insurance sites and inform them they are involved in possible identity theft, which might just motivate them to remove us from their databases. I hope they get a little unsettled about it, too--they're one step away from spammers IMHO.
It's SO nice and sunny out this afternoon. I've promised Patriot a nice walk--I worked Tuesday and Wednesday nights, which wiped out any urge to exercise even if the weather had been pleasant, which it was not. Must ignore the purring cat snuggled up next to me...stay awake...
I'm near finishing the body of another sweater, a simpler (less Fair Isle knitting) version of what I knit for Melissa (this time for ME)--4 more inches of knitting to go, although as I am reverting to the Fair Isle pattern and shaping for the v-neckline, progress will be slower. There should be just enough time to knit the sleeves and button bands, cut open the steeks, and attach sleeves before the arrival of warm weather, LOL!
Hope everybody's weekend weather is pleasant!
We discussed where the credit card was used in the few days before we were notified of the "irregular activity." We had been out to dinner on Friday, and Norm had used the card at Staples Saturday. Supposedly, waiters are a prime source for stolen credit card numbers. Where we went was a very small local, family run cafe, however. But I'm starting to wonder now about Staples. I think he has some sort of preferred customer card with them, and what information is collected with that?
I placed a fraud alert on our credit report, which is easy enough to do, and will file a complaint with the FTC and local police as the FTC site recommends. I might contact the Internet insurance sites and inform them they are involved in possible identity theft, which might just motivate them to remove us from their databases. I hope they get a little unsettled about it, too--they're one step away from spammers IMHO.
It's SO nice and sunny out this afternoon. I've promised Patriot a nice walk--I worked Tuesday and Wednesday nights, which wiped out any urge to exercise even if the weather had been pleasant, which it was not. Must ignore the purring cat snuggled up next to me...stay awake...
I'm near finishing the body of another sweater, a simpler (less Fair Isle knitting) version of what I knit for Melissa (this time for ME)--4 more inches of knitting to go, although as I am reverting to the Fair Isle pattern and shaping for the v-neckline, progress will be slower. There should be just enough time to knit the sleeves and button bands, cut open the steeks, and attach sleeves before the arrival of warm weather, LOL!
Hope everybody's weekend weather is pleasant!